Hard Choices on a Harsh Frontier
A Southwestern-inspired frontier adventure of capture, escape, folklore, and difficult decisions.
A Southwestern-inspired frontier adventure of capture, escape, folklore, and hard choices in the southern reaches of Portal Lake.
No Plan Survives First Contact
The road to Hill Town is not as safe as it appears.
Beyond the settled lands surrounding Portal Lake lies a rugged frontier of open grasslands, rocky hills, desert valleys, and windswept mountains inspired by the American Southwest and northern Mexico.
It is beautiful country.
It is also dangerous country.
As signs of woodrat raids become increasingly common, the party soon discovers that predators are not the only threat lurking beyond the frontier. A carefully planned ambush leaves the adventurers captured and imprisoned, forcing them to escape captivity before they can continue their journey.
A Frontier of Dust and Stone
Agave-filled valleys, rugged canyons, abandoned trails, and isolated settlements create a very different atmosphere from the forests and towns surrounding Portal Lake.
This region draws inspiration from classic western adventures, blending harsh wilderness survival with frontier communities, dangerous outlaws, and opportunities for exploration.
Every trail leads somewhere. Not every destination is friendly.
Escape and Survival
The adventure begins with a simple journey and quickly becomes a struggle for freedom.
Once captured, the party must rely on ingenuity, cooperation, and resourcefulness to escape their captors and survive in unfamiliar territory. Violence is one solution, but rarely the only one.
The wilderness itself becomes as important an obstacle as the enemies pursuing them.
A Flexible Side Trek
Desperate Dusty Desperados was originally written as an optional adventure between Dead Dead Bodies and Part-Time Professional Mine Janitors, but it works equally well as a stand-alone scenario, one-shot, escort mission, or wilderness side trek.
Whether protecting a merchant caravan, exploring the frontier, or simply trying to survive after a disastrous ambush, the adventure offers numerous opportunities for roleplaying, exploration, and old-school problem solving.
Released: 31 July 2026
