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EB-19 Back to the Mud

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D&D Adventurers League

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$4.99

JUDGMENT DAY HAS ARRIVED!

In the ruins of Making, the Lord of Blades hammers out an army of steel to conquer the Five Nations of Khorvaire. With the Oracle of Bones at his side, he knows all plots against him before they can be enacted. He cannot be defeated---unless, of course, his enemies have their own Oracle. Optimized for APL 19, this is the third in a quartet of adventures, the Flames of War storyline.

Welcome to the Oracle of War campaign, a new 20-part standalone story for the D&D Adventurers League! You can play this adventure as part of your own Eberron: Rising from the Last War campaign, or as part of the Oracle of War organized play campaign. While this campaign runs under the umbrella of the Adventurers League, it utilizes different rules. You can familiarize yourself with these unique campaign rules by checking out the Oracle of War Player's Guide and Oracle of War DM's Guide, found in the D&D Adventurers League Players Pack.

Find other adventures in the Oracle of War campaign here:

EB-01 The Night Land

EB-02 Voice in the Machine

EB-03 Where the Dead Wait

EB-04 The Third Protocol

EB-05 A Century of Ashes

EB-06 The Last Word

EB-07 Song of the Sky

EB-08 Parliament of Gears

EB-09 Lord Bucket

EB-10 Judgment of Iron

EB-11 My Undying Heart

EB-12 The Waiting Game

EB-13 Stonefire

EB-14 From Dust

EB-15 Dream Eater

EB-16 The Dragon Below

EB-17 The Final Tribute

EB-18 Scales of War

EB-19 Back to the Mud

EB-EP-01 The Iron Titan

EB-EP-02 Rolling Thunder

EB-EP-03 The Rising City

EB Oracle of War Complete Adventure Bundle [BUNDLE]

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Reviews (2)

Discussions (7)

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Casey P January 31, 2022 3:35 am UTC

When does the 20th one come out?

Malcolm W January 27, 2022 12:17 am UTC

PURCHASER

This is an interesting adventure but has a few issues. The clouds are at a 30 foot height so this means that the Argonth and Karrnslayer are literally in the clouds full of living cloudkill spells. Also based on the picture of the Argonth from Eberron Rising its weaponry is also in the clouds. I could not find anything that tells how high the cavern is. Also the only entrance mentioned is 5 feet wide so how did the Karrnslayer get in and how does the Argonth get in during the adventure. I cannot see a floating fortress trying to blast/bulldoze its way into a glass cavern ending well for the cavern or anything in it. My party had a druid in it and it was a problem deciding if his spells that effected plants/animals worked on the created war forged type of things in the cavern. Also at close range most summoned animals and familiars will show up as slightly different from the war forged creatures here limiting there ability to use as scouts/spies. Even a druids shape changing will appear to be slightly off.

STEVEN R October 23, 2021 6:19 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Update on October release date for EP-4 ?

Will D October 27, 2021 10:10 am UTC

PURCHASER

Unfortunately, we've had to push the release of EP-4 back to November. It will release soon after the revised premiere date!

STEVEN R October 27, 2021 1:52 pm UTC

PURCHASER

So, what does that mean precisely? Guessing you can't give exact date, but start of Nov, mid Nov, end of Nov..?
This will of course push 20 back as well?
Much appreciated.

Folian E November 06, 2021 4:23 am UTC

PURCHASER

Hey Will, it seems like you work with or are affiliated with AL . . . any idea when EB-20 might come out?

Will D November 06, 2021 3:30 pm UTC

PURCHASER

EBEP-04 will release toward the end of November. This has pushed EB-20 into December - most likely an end of the month release too. Hopefully before Christmas though!

STEVEN R November 07, 2021 8:30 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Moving from Dust - Dream Eater so timing works out well ;-) curious to see how it all ends both 'officially' and at the table!

R. Aiden M November 30, 2021 8:20 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Is there a place where we can find release date updates? Just want to know if EBEP-04 & EB-20 have been delayed again?

Will D December 01, 2021 11:55 am UTC

PURCHASER

EBEP-4 is running slightly late, but will be out this week. EB-20 still inbound for the end of December!

R. Aiden M December 01, 2021 6:38 pm UTC

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Thanks for the update!

Anson D December 07, 2021 7:46 pm UTC

Is EP-4 supposed to be run before EB-20?

Jeremy B December 09, 2021 6:48 pm UTC

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Typically, yes. "This adventure can take place at any time during the Flames of War storyline but, for continuity, it’s best enjoyed between DDAL-EB-19 Back to the Mud and DDAL-EB-20 Old Scores."

Charlie G May 31, 2022 12:39 pm UTC

It's been a while since this comment, is there any news of 20 being published?

Theresa O September 30, 2021 8:08 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I was hoping for some sort of expanded backdrop on the Lord of Blades' origins and motivations in this adventure. This installment of Oracle of War has many opportunities to expand on him as a character, but it never actually gives anything. His origin and motives are left a mystery, he does not get a fancy speech, and the characters just go up to him in the finale and slug it out. Unless I have missed something in Oracle of War that elaborates on his story, he is just some big bad mecha-man who wants to take over Khorvaire out of some vague vengeance.

Also, some of the challenge ratings in this adventure seem suspect. Aaren does not seem like a challenge rating 12, nor does the warforged battlemage seem like a challenge rating 22.

Jeremy B September 30, 2021 8:48 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I think it's absolutely fair to suggest that the principal antagonist (so far) of this arc, whom the party has been anticipating revenge since EB-10, who Knows Your Face, has been studying your weaknesses, and who is known for being a charismatic leader of his people.... deserves his own boxed text speech to deliver before/during the fight to really sell that long-expected confrontation. But if the LoB really knows the characters, I'll probably still prefer to write my own speech and give it personal touches unique to my campaigns and its heroes.

As for his origin, I did not expect that to be elaborated, just as I would not expect a canonical explanation for the Day of Mourning to ever be revealed. Those details have always been left by the campaign creators as levers of intrigue for creative homebrew DMs to manipulate as they see fit, and providing canonical explanations in even semi-official sources such as this might undermine that gesture by suggesting those creative DMs who invented their own...See more

Theresa O September 30, 2021 8:03 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I have gone over Oracle of War #19. Has the origin and true nature of the Oracle of War yet to be revealed? It seems like they are waiting until the very end of the entire adventure series to actually hand out any answers or backdrop, and I fear a scenario wherein there simply are no answers at all.

Jeremy B September 30, 2021 10:30 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Most of the origin was revealed in EB-15 Handout 2. More personal interactions with it are happening now. Some additional discoveries have been teased for the next epic. That's a far cry from not providing "any answers or backdrop" or "no answers at all." And it's natural that there would still be some unanswered questions intended for the final climax. Maybe there will even be some additional questions left unanswered for the future sequel.

I understand that the release format of these modules brings frustration to a DM who endures too long of a gap between adventures or too often gets put on the spot without appropriate answers. But please be mindful of exaggerated critical statements or speculative disappointment in unreleased content. Unlike constructive criticism, it demonstrates a determination to condemn this campaign and bring negativity to its community.

Theresa O October 01, 2021 6:25 am UTC

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Oracle of War #15's handout #2 does not mention who genuinely created the Oracle of War, which is rather important, because the true creators have yet to show their faces in this adventure series. The handout does not explain the event that caused the Oracle of War to gain its Prophetic powers, and it certainly does not explain why a trio of genies from the plane of beasts and nature (Lamannia seems like a rather unfitting plane to tie the Oracle of War to) is the power source behind the artifact.

STEVEN R October 01, 2021 2:30 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Nitpicks aside, agree Theresa too bad we don't learn much about the Oracle as we go along. I wish more would have been revealed, and it's gotten a little dull. It's really not that big of a deal!
At first it was fascinating, and I expected to learn more about it as campaign went along. It started to do cool things like ignore resistances, etc but didn't explain how / why. The prophecies got forgotten and / or obvious (happening just before event so no mystery there) and no real payoff as to why it was doing it in the first place?
Now it's a time machine? Huh?!
The Oracle of Bones - what does it do exactly? Does it have connection to other Oracle?
Clearly everything is going to be revealed at the end (including to the DM!) in TWO MONTHS so let`s keep our fingers crossed, shall we? Maybe it's all an allegory about the quest for power and control lol.
Kvetching aside, there is some cool stuff in this adventure with high stakes, like Xoriat consuming Eberron love it. Like the Titan...See more

Jeremy B October 01, 2021 8:35 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I assume you mean who contracted the Oracle's creation (it's been made clear that Sulring created it). I predict and have faith that question will be answered in EB-20. If it's not, I'll happily join you in your dissent.

The other questions may or may not get an official answer. In a normal campaign book release, that probably would have been fine, because the questions unanswered by the book would be within the authority of the DM to invent and provide as flavor throughout the natural flow of the campaign. In a serialized release such as this, that distinction between critical and trivial information is obscured, preventing opportunities where the DM could have innovated. I think this campaign suffers in a large part from its own success, being such an intriguing and addictive epic campaign story whose potential is constrained by its single-session/shared-DM target format. I'm conflicted because I really want to see more campaigns just like this, and for that reason I also feel hesitant about criticizing...See more

Will D October 01, 2021 11:59 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Stand fast for EBEP-04 and EB-20, my Eberronlings. Many of the answers you seek about the Oracle will be revealed (though whether they land to your satisfaction is entirely subjective!)

Jeremy - you're right that the serialised nature of the campaign does create some constraints that wouldn't exist within a conventional campaign book. I'd love to smooth out some of those if we get the opportunity/time to release a revised compilation, but in a way I kind of like the pulpy feel it gives the adventures in play (e.g. "Smash cut to Salvation!"). Love the idea of an epilogue module - but hopefully, in some respects, EB-20 covers some of that.

Steven - For context, the Oracle was intended to be a bit of a MacGuffin, in that it drags you into events that rapidly coalesce into major, pressing threats to Khorvaire. There are revelations and conclusions to come in EB-20, but I never wanted each adventure to uncover more info about the artifact itself. That said, I take onboard your criticisms!...See more

Jeremy B October 02, 2021 12:51 am UTC

PURCHASER

Looking forward to it Will! I've been keeping a document of all the unreferenced legacy events, and I'm excited as to what it portends for EB-20! :)

Theresa O October 02, 2021 5:56 am UTC

PURCHASER

If you want to have the Lord of Blades be a straightforward, big bad mecha man, then fine. But at least hype up the confrontation. At least give him a speech, or if not a speech, then a brief idea of what he could actually say to the party.

Let us have a look at page 97 of the original 3.5 Eberron Campaign Setting book, as you say. "Lamannia, the Twilight Forest, is a realm of raw and wild nature unbounded, untouched by civilization. Despite the plane’s name, the forests that stretch in all directions are not its only terrain feature—majestic mountains, wide grasslands, sultry swamps, rolling hills, and even deserts and tundras make up the vibrant biosphere of Lamannia. All kinds of plants, animals, magical beasts, and bestial outsiders are found in the Twilight Forest, as well as air, earth, and water elementals. Lycanthropes, too—rare on Eberron—are common in Lamannia, since many fled to this plane during the crusade that nearly exterminated them from Khorvaire."

Ergo,...See more

Will D October 02, 2021 12:19 pm UTC

PURCHASER

My point is that genies are canonically native to Lamannia (in your excerpt, you omitted the section that mentions this). As elemental creatures, genies do represent nature - fire, earth, air, and water - so I don't think they need to be reimagined to fit into the plane. Most importantly though: the genies imprisoned inside the Oracle of War are used as its power source. My cell phone has lithium batteries, but you wouldn't know that from its operation, would you? It's hardly belching out clouds of lithium gas whenever I use it.

Theresa O October 03, 2021 6:42 am UTC

PURCHASER

The immortals of the Orrery are not just generic D&D creatures who happen to be living in a given plane. A Dolurrhi nalfeshnee is not just some generic D&D nalfeshnee; it is an outsider that, in some way, represents the themes of the plane of the dead. A Fernian pit fiend, likewise, is not a generic D&D pit fiend; it is a manifestation of the plane of fire, and embodies one fiery symbolism or another.

Consequently, I think that the train of logic of "I want to have the artifact be powered by genies—where do genies canonically come from in Eberron?—it looks like Lamannia has multiple types of genies—the genies are from Lamannia, then—the power source is thus called the Lamannian Triune" is faulty, because it does not quite "get" the way immortals in Eberron work. It would be fine if the artifact represented the power of beasts and nature in some way, but that simply is not the case in this adventure series.

Theresa O October 03, 2021 6:55 am UTC

PURCHASER

Likewise, Eberron often makes use of Lamannian elementals in magic items, but such elementals are relatively unintelligent, and they power items that produce almost purely physical effects. These genies, conversely, are highly intelligent magicians who are powering an artifact of pure divination. I think it would have been better to move past the superficial starting question of "Where do genies in Eberron canonically come from?" and pick a more fitting plane to tie the artifact's powers to.

Jeremy B September 30, 2021 7:40 pm UTC

PURCHASER

It seems like the passage of the trinkets doesn't uphold the known timestream. If an adventurer gave their trinket to Gaarvin in EB-19, then why was it missing at the start of EB-18? What's described here should have produced a (chronologically temporary) second copy of the same trinket instead of producing a trinket which was lost. Because of how it was described in EB-18, I had imagined a Time Heist in which the adventurers would have to secretly steal their own trinket from their past selves without running into those past selves.

Is there additional context to come, or did the adventure designers suffer a time travel consequence here? :)