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D&D Solo Adventure: Tyrant of Zhentil KeepClick to magnify

D&D Solo Adventure: Tyrant of Zhentil Keep

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

5e Solo Gamebooks presents Tyrant of Zhentil Keep by Paul Bimler, a 160+ page solo adventure for Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition. This adventure is designed for one 3rd-level PC of any race or class, without a DM. Tyrant of Zhentil Keep continues the narrative of The Death Knight’s Squire (the first solo adventure in this series) but can be played as a standalone also. It follows the story of your PC as they continue their journey across Faerun, a lone adventurer wandering wherever the wind takes them. Eventually, it takes them to Zhentil Keep in the Moonsea Region, a strange city, full of secrets. There they begin a quest which takes place over two books, this being the first one, part 2 being Citadel of the Raven.

Tyrant of Zhentil Keep is a mini-sandbox in gamebook form, with multiple sidequests and locations to explore. Everything leads towards a central story arc that becomes clearer as the book progresses. Where Death Knight’s Squire had a clear-cut mission at its core, this adventure is pure exploration at first, similar to how a game with a Dungeon Master might commence. The nature of your quest becomes clearer as you advance, collecting snippets of information and encountering various NPCs and locations. The adventure builds upon The Death Knight's Squire in several ways, introducing new combat sheets, sidequests and even audio sound FX embedded in the PDF!

You have two ways to approach playing this adventure. You could print out the maps booklet and use actual tokens or miniatures (you’ll need access to a printer for this), or you can load individual .png files of the maps (included) into Roll20 or similar applications and place and move tokens on your device. 

Gamebook News called The Death Knight’s Squire “An exciting new interactive format for lovers of fantasy gamebooks and roleplaying.”

PRAISE FOR 5E SOLO GAMEBOOKS:

I ran through this last night… it was a ton of fun!

Allen D.

The writing (superb), maps, and overall presentation are excellent… for me, any future chapters / modules will be an automatic buy.

Tim C.

It was challenging at points, which as a player of D&D I was looking for… its replayability is great though.

Matthew M.

PRAISE FOR TYRANT OF ZHENTIL KEEP:

Tyrant of Zhentil Keep is a fun choose-your-own 5e adventure with tons of variety. As soon as I was finished, I wanted to go through it again to see what I’d missed.

Kristina Chun

There’s something here for everyone. Every class, every playstyle. And you literally can’t do it all in one go. This book provides so many thrilling encounters and intriguing stories that it demands that you replay again and again.

Shayne Rodrigues


Tyrant of Zhentil Keep is part one of a two-part quest, however it is playable as a stand-alone adventure. It can be played as DM + 1, DM +2, dual PC scenario without a DM, and there are rules included for running it as such, and ideas for converting it to a full campaign.

At just under 500 entries, the adventure has numerous possible routes, ensuring high replayability. This is something that has come back repeatedly during playtesting. There are multiple sidequests and encounters throughout the adventure. There are even audio files embedded in the pdf which provide sound fx and ambient backgrounds relevant to the area you are adventuring through!

(NOTE: In order to play audio, you need Adobe Acrobat 10.0 with the latest version of Flash installed. More info HERE).

What really sets this module apart, however, is that it only needs the addition of you, the player, for fun to commence. So what are you waiting for? Pick this badboy up and get D&Ding now!

The sequel to Tyrant of Zhentil Keep is Citadel of the Raven, now available here

Please check out our full range of solo adventure titles:

Death Knight's Squire

Tyrant of Zhentil Keep

Citadel of the Raven

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

Rage of the Rakasta 5e Solo Conversion

Menace of the Icy Spire 5e Solo Conversion

Ghost of Lion Castle 5e Conversion

Toolbox Solo Adventure A1: The Dead Don't Sleep



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Reviews (16)
Discussions (49)
Customer avatar
Max R January 05, 2024 8:58 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi there!
I'm a little bit "stuck" on the progress of a side quest, SPECTERQUEST.

SPOILER TERRITORY

After my victory in the encounter with the specter (and having collected the correct token, i.e. I know what to do with it), I am directed to entry 79. From entry 79, I chose 350, since I did not meet Jamaunga. This brings me back to Map 1, the city plan.
Only if I would have gone on the entry 101 (met Jamaunga, he survived the battle) I could have completed the side quest, since this brings me to the Barracks (entry 226). Had he died (38) I still would have returned to the map, whether I could have saved him (312) or not (208). Is this intentional? Since I read on the bulletin board where to deliver the helmet, I knew what to do. I feel cheated for my reward :(

Thanks in advance.
Customer avatar
Isaac T January 03, 2024 7:29 am UTC
PURCHASER
Any chance the rest of this series gets a physical version?
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B January 04, 2024 9:35 pm UTC
CREATOR
Hmm, possibly. I'm currently focused on the Roll20 versions but you've got me thinking now...
Reply
Customer avatar
Luke Y February 19, 2024 6:31 am UTC
PURCHASER
I just finished The Death Knight's Squire! Man oh man was it fun! I too am hoping for a print on demand for the rest of the solo adventure series. I assume it would be easier to play on a device with a PDF reader, but I'm more of a physical media guy and I don't mind all the page turning. The adventure was literally and metaphorically a page-turner. Whatever the case I can't wait to play the next adventure!
Customer avatar
Vickie B November 27, 2023 5:03 am UTC
PURCHASER
Maybe it’s just me but the dice game (18) is confusing. First the NPCs says it’s 100gp per round “so not for the faint of heart”. Then I followed the rules, I think, and rolled 2d6 and got a 5 and 1. So we will slay the dragon at the end of 6 rounds.
Start round One each player rolling 3 dice taking turns. The first player gets doubles after 4 tries, second player gets doubles on the first try and I get doubles on the first try. Does someone win now?
The rules say *After the round is played, the player with the lowest total coins in front of them has slain the dragon the fastest and wins 100 gp.* Does the house pay this to the winner?
I assumed it must mean the winner at the end of the game (for me it was 6 rounds).
Do all of the coins go to the house and the winner gets 100gp? If this is the case, the house always loses LOL. And is this at the end of each round or after all of the rounds (determined by the 2d6 roll?)

Maybe when it says the end of the round it...See more
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Customer avatar
Douglas T December 09, 2023 1:24 am UTC
PURCHASER
Yes, I couldn't figure the dice game out either. We went six rounds and four of them were ties. Both outcomes give you the same options, but I was really hoping to play the dice game!
Customer avatar
JOHN S August 22, 2023 8:01 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Anu update or progress on a Roll20 conversion? What about your other solo series, would love to see them in ROll20
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B August 28, 2023 3:57 am UTC
CREATOR
Yes absolutely, it is on its way. I understand the DM's Guild Roll20 team are pretty snowed under with conversions at the moment, but this adventure is the next product of mine scheduled to be converted... so hopefully not too long!
Reply
Customer avatar
JOHN S August 28, 2023 1:07 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks for the quick response. Looking forward to any conversions you bring to Roll20....... and just your products in general, such a wonderful time playing these instant classics.
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Customer avatar
Paul B August 30, 2023 2:03 am UTC
CREATOR
Kind words John, thank you :)
Customer avatar
Harold O July 29, 2023 5:33 pm UTC
PURCHASER
After the TPK in the Grax fight, my daughter suggested that we might try the "2 PCs" option. But we can't figure out when to double the number of monsters and when a fight is with a villain/boss that has +2 AC and 150% HP. Where is this indicated, and how?
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B August 03, 2023 3:36 am UTC
CREATOR
Hi Harold!
Awesome that you're playing this with your daughter. How cool.
Basically, in the book, everything is double the monsters, I'd say except for these encounters:

Kromm Daggerfist
Annaya
Grax

Treat those ones as bosses. Hope that's helpful!
Customer avatar
Adrien B February 26, 2023 4:06 pm UTC
Any Foundry VTT module ?
Customer avatar
JOHN S February 17, 2023 12:48 am UTC
PURCHASER
ROLL20 conversion please!!!!
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B February 23, 2023 5:30 pm UTC
CREATOR
It will definitely get done... however the conversion team is a bit backed up with other projects at the moment... including a couple of my own! They will all get converted to Roll20 eventually :) Thanks for the support
Customer avatar
Zachary S November 15, 2022 7:39 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I'm loving this series. Is it appropriate to revisit locations that your character would reasonably have access to again during periods of the adventure in which it would reasonably be possible for them to do so? I don't want to give anything away, just wondering if returning to locations in the town that one has already been to without being specifically prompted is acceptable or if it would unbalance the adventure sequence. Thanks.
Customer avatar
Stefano V August 15, 2022 1:04 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi, first of all I want to compliment you for the amazing work! Second I am here for permission… would it be fine to turn one of the +1 magic weapons sold from short sword to scimitar? I just love scimitars…
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B August 25, 2022 7:49 pm UTC
CREATOR
Thanks for the support Stefano!!! And yes, you absolutely have my permission :)
Customer avatar
Andrew P July 29, 2022 5:35 am UTC
PURCHASER
How do you know how much experience each combat gives? Is that something that we just guess?
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Customer avatar
Paul B August 06, 2022 1:44 am UTC
CREATOR
From this adventure on, I decided to go with milestone levelling, so XP isn't as relevant as in the first adventure. I hope that answers your question :)
Customer avatar
Jason R July 17, 2022 11:39 pm UTC
PURCHASER
No Audio. Adobe is not free anymore, how else can I get the sound?
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B August 06, 2022 9:36 pm UTC
CREATOR
Hi Jason. Adobe Reader is still free, here's the link: https://get.adobe.com/reader/
Customer avatar
Paul B June 09, 2022 7:30 pm UTC
CREATOR
Hey all
A new version of this product has just been uploaded which hopefully fixes the issues discussed below.
The sidequest issue is fixed, allowing completion of multiple sidequests no matter which route you take through the adventure.
Several typos were fixed, notably a couple of stat blocks that were mentioned below.
And several hyperlinks were added.
Please don't hesitate to comment in here if you find any other issues.
Customer avatar
Paul B June 02, 2022 11:24 pm UTC
CREATOR
Hey previous purchasers! Just a heads up.
I am aware that some of you were dissatisfied with your experience.
In an effort to remedy this, I am currently doing a major revision of this product.
Once it's done, I will comment in here again... and you should receive an email informing you of an updated version which will of course be freely available to you.
Customer avatar
M A B February 23, 2022 9:07 pm UTC
PURCHASER
There should probably be more caveats to the effect that this isn't really a standalone adventure - you don't get any XP until you complete the next one. That said, it's cool that this is essentially a sandbox that eventually leads to the next adventure. Interestingly, every single combat I got into could have been avoided, so it's possible to do this adventure without fighting anyone.

NITS: There are weird formatting (?) issues with some of the stat blocks at the end of the Adventure Booklet, e.g. Zlug has two and a half Battleaxe entries, Danahdir seems to have a shortsword that can also bludgeon? Also, several of the creatures I fought with or against had ACs and/or attacks that didn't seem in line with their stats, e.g. the Black Paladin with a 16 AC, but no shield (who is using a weapon two-handed), and poor Slug, who should try using DEX with his shortsword.
Reply
Customer avatar
M A B February 23, 2022 9:39 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Oh, and I almost forgot - Danahdir has Protection fighting style, which requires a shield, but no shield? In my run, we tried to sneak in, so he clearly didn't bring any shield he had with him, so it worked out, but he really should have a shield and not want to leave it behind.
Customer avatar
Els E December 17, 2021 7:04 am UTC
PURCHASER
Hi, I loved playing this adventure. I’m relatively new at dnd and trying to become a DM for some of my family. This helped a lot. My Palladin had a tough time but made it through. Now I’m searching for the amount of XP I should add. The book says it will be rewarded as milestones and I should level up at the end, but I can’t find any amount anywhere in the book. Should I just level up my character to level 4 and set it at 2700 XP? It feels much too soon, I only fought three monsters. Or will XP be rewarded at the end of the second part?
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B December 17, 2021 7:54 am UTC
CREATOR
Hi Els! Yes, you level up to level 4 after the end of the second part.
Customer avatar
Craig W October 17, 2021 2:35 pm UTC
I bought the Solo adventure bundle 1, absolutely loved the Death Knight's Squire, really well done, though I don't see the point of the Blood knight, it almost get completely forgotten about after this...

I , like most others from reading the discussions am rather disappointed in the Tyrant of Zhentil Keep and the Citadel of the Raven.
ToZK seems very rushed, to get you in and out without you even doing anything in the keep, Understandably, the first afternoon/evening you get there, you want to get a drink, maybe gamble some money or look at a board of information, but that's it, you need to sleep, you can choose to say hey to a halfling down on his luck which leads to a side quest... then you absolutely must find an inn and sleep.

New day, you can roam around and shop in 4 places, get info or trinkets, maybe find a second side quest. But once you head back to the inn and get a side quest done, that's it, The Spanish Inquisition turn up, drag you to a dark room and tell you to...See more
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Product Information
Mithral seller
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167
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File Last Updated:
June 09, 2022
This title was added to our catalog on December 13, 2017.