Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) – Crown of Destiny
Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) – Crown of Destiny Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Expansion Overview
Crown of Destiny is an expansion for Descent: Journeys in the Dark Second Edition that adds new heroes and monsters to the game. In addition, it contains two unique quests. These can be played on their own, using the base game or the Epic rules described in the base rulebook. They can also be included in a campaign using this expansion's Rumor card and Bonus Quest card.
Using This Expansion
Add the new Monster cards, Hero sheets, and monster and hero figures to the matching storage. Then, if you are using the Conversion Kit, remove the heroes and monsters with the same names as those in this expansion and return them to the base game box.
When you play a campaign that includes Rumor cards, add this expansion's Rumor card and Bonus Quest card to the matching decks.
The Overlord card included in this expansion can only be obtained as a reward for winning the quest "Fiery Harvest".
Extension Icon
All cards and sheets in this expansion are marked with the Crown of Destiny icon, so that these components can be told apart from base game components and from other expansions.
Cards
Chaos Beast
Shifting: When this monster attacks, it uses the figure dice in its line of sight (chosen by the overlord). If a hero is chosen, the overlord decides which weapon is used. The monster cannot use the figure's other abilities.
Chaos Sorcery X: After an attack roll, this monster may convert up to X range into ♥, or up to X ♥ into range. (The Level II card reads Chaos Sorcery 2 and the Level III card reads Chaos Sorcery 3.)
Lava Beetle
Blast: This attack affects all figures adjacent to the space the attack targets.
Giant
Lunge: This monster may attack targets within 2 spaces of it.
Sweep: Make an attack. This attack affects each figure within 2 spaces of this monster and in line of sight. Defense dice are rolled separately for each figure.
Stun: If this attack inflicts at least 1 ♥ (after the defense dice are rolled), the target is Stunned.
Fiery Gems (Overlord Reward Card, Trap)
Trap. Play this card when a hero moves onto an empty space. The overlord makes a test with the icon shown on the card (the icon is not legible in the source scan, so the stat it refers to is not named here). If the test fails, roll 1 red power die. This hero and each figure adjacent to them suffer ♥ damage equal to the number of ♥ rolled.
Fiery Harvest (Rumor Card)
Play this card at the start of the Campaign Phase during Act I. You cannot play this card if the Interlude is the next available quest. While this card is in play, it counts as an available quest.
They say a giant named Magin knows where the Crown of Destiny is located, the legendary artifact that can rewrite fate! Soon he will come down from his mountain to gather the fiery gems that are dug out of the molten pools. This is a rare chance to uncover the location of the long-lost Crown.
If this card is in play when you advance to Act II, the Overlord gains the Overlord card "Fiery Gems". Then place the Bonus Quest card "Crown of Destiny" into play.
Crown of Destiny (Bonus Quest Card)
While this card is in play, it counts as an available quest. If this quest is available after the Finale setup, the Overlord may draw 1 Overlord card.
You have learned that the legendary Crown of Destiny is not a diadem at all, but a hidden plateau amid towering mountains. If the legends are true, the rivers that run through this lost region can be used to rewrite destiny. Both past and future can be erased and written anew.
Heroes' Reward (back of the Bonus Quest card):
Path Not Taken: During the "Receive Rewards" step of the Campaign Phase, the heroes may return this card and any number of purchased Class cards to the box. Each hero gains experience points equal to the total of all Class cards that were removed.
Overlord Reward (back of the Bonus Quest card):
Reforged: During the "Receive Rewards" step of the Campaign Phase, you may return this card and any number of purchased Overlord cards from your deck to the box. Receive experience points equal to the total of all Overlord cards that were removed.
Quest 1: Fiery Harvest
Rumor, Act I. Encounter 1.
As you climb the mountain, you see streams of molten rock flowing from cracks in the uneven surface. At last, when you reach the entrance to an abandoned mine, a gust of hot sulphurous wind hits your face.
From the rubble scattered in a circle it is clear that giants pried several boulders from the rock to widen the mine entrance. The enormous stones themselves were thrown aside.
Only once you step inside do you notice a dim glow from the lava beetles, agitated by Magin's presence. Suddenly everything is lit by a fiery eruption straight from the ground.
Monsters
1 giant. Lava beetles. 1 open group.
Setup
Place the lava beetles in the Cave. The giants occupy the Lava Pool. The open group is placed in the Hollow.
Choose 1 giant. This is Magin. Magin gains +3 Health for each hero.
Place the 4 red quest tokens as shown on the map. These are cracks.
Place 6 quest tokens face down as shown on the map. These are gems.
Place search tokens equal to the number of heroes.
Map note: the tile labels on the printed map are 5B (Cave, with the Entrance), 9B (Hollow), 12B (Lava Pool), and the other tiles shown on the diagram. The positions of the tokens are shown only on the map and are not reproduced in this text. The tile names are as given in the fan translation.
Special Rules
Lava beetles ignore lava spaces and take no damage from cracks (see "Fiery Jets").
Fiery Jets. At the start of each overlord turn, the overlord may choose 1 crack and roll 1 red die. Each figure within 2 spaces of that crack suffers damage equal to the number of ♥ rolled.
Greed Is a Terrible Thing. As an action, Magin may pick up an adjacent gem. Place this quest token in the overlord's play area.
If the overlord's play area contains 4 quest tokens, Magin may leave the map through the Entrance or the Exit.
Reinforcements. Once per encounter, at the end of the overlord's turn, he may call for help. If he does, place monsters from the open group on the Entrance or the Exit, subject to the group limit.
At the start and end of each overlord turn, place 1 lava beetle on a lava space, subject to the group limit.
Victory
If Magin is defeated, read the following text aloud:
"Enough!" roars Magin. He glares as the remaining fiery gems sink into the lava that spawned them. "My prize is lost, and I do not intend to die today. The Crown you seek has never rested on the head of a king or queen. No. This place is at the top of the mountain. The water in those lakes is primordial. This is the oldest place, the key to changing your destiny. But beware, such power is never left unguarded!"
The heroes win!
If Magin left the map through the Entrance or the Exit, read the following text aloud:
Magin has escaped, but he left the map with a small red gemstone on it. You recognize the mountains on the map at the spot where the gem lies. It tells of an ancient temple on the mountaintop. Suddenly the gem bursts into bright flame and destroys the map!
The overlord wins!
Rewards
If the overlord wins, he receives the Overlord card "Fiery Gems" and draws 1 Rumor card.
Regardless of who wins, place the Bonus Quest card "Crown of Destiny" into play.
Quest 2: Crown of Destiny
Rumor, Act II. Encounter 1.
On the summit of the mountain you finally reach a plateau known as the Crown of Destiny. On one side of you is a lake of clear water, full of strange and primitive creatures resembling fish. Worms crawl over the sunken stones, emerging from the murky banks.
On the other side stands an ancient temple, built countless millions of years ago. Beyond its gates you hear a terrible battle. The tone of the sound changes, as if a creature were growing larger and changing its shape.
Monsters
Chaos Beasts. Flesh Shapers. 2 open groups (not large monsters).
Setup
Place the blue quest tokens as shown on the map.
Place the Chaos Beast leader in the Cave, ignoring the group limit. Place the Flesh Shapers on spaces with blue quest tokens, subject to the group limit. Chaos Beast minions and the 2 open groups are not placed during setup.
The heroes take the 4 red quest tokens and divide them evenly among themselves as far as possible. Each hero places a token on their hero sheet. Each token is a Fate of that hero.
Place search tokens equal to the number of heroes.
Map note: the tile labels on the printed map include 2B (Cave) and the Entrance. The positions of the tokens are shown only on the map and are not reproduced in this text.
Special Rules
Each space with a blue quest token counts as a water space.
Find Your Fate
As an action, a monster adjacent to a hero with a Fate may attempt to unravel that hero's Fate, even if the hero is knocked down. The overlord rolls 1 gray and 1 black defense die. If the result is less than or equal to the number of heroes, remove 1 Fate from this hero and place it on the monster's base. This monster now carries the hero's Fate. The first time this happens, read the following text aloud:
The creature opened its mouth wide, and a red mist began to seep from your lungs in a thin stream. Then the mist vanished into the beast's throat, and a terrible feeling of despair seized you. You lost a part of yourself, your sense of unity and confidence. Though hard to describe, somehow you knew that your future had now become vulnerable.
As an action, a monster adjacent to a water space, and carrying a hero's Fate, may subjugate that Fate to chaos. If it does so, place the quest token this monster carried face up on that water space. The first time this happens, read the following text aloud:
Whatever fate you had, it has now been cast aside. The life of wealth and glory you strove for has been replaced by chaos.
If the monster carrying a hero's Fate is defeated, the hero nearest to that monster places the Fate on their hero sheet. If 2 or more heroes are equally distant, the heroes decide which of them receives the Fate.
Divide and Conquer
Each time a Chaos Beast leader is defeated, place 1 Chaos Beast minion on the space where the leader was and 1 Chaos Beast minion on an adjacent space, ignoring the group limit.
Each time a Chaos Beast minion is defeated, place 1 leader and up to 3 minions from one of the open groups on the spaces the Chaos Beast occupied, using the group limit as for 4 heroes. If the overlord cannot place all the figures, he places as many as he can.
Even More Than Before
At the end of each of his turns, the overlord may flip 1 face-up red quest token on a water space over, to absorb that Fate. If he does, he replaces 1 adjacent monster with an upgraded one, following the rules below, subject to the group limit:
- 1 minion from an open group is replaced by 1 leader from the same open group.
- 1 leader from an open group is replaced by 1 Chaos Beast minion.
- 1 Chaos Beast minion is replaced by 1 Chaos Beast leader.
If the upgraded monster does not fit, place it on the nearest free space. If the figure needed for the upgrade is unavailable, the overlord cannot flip the red quest token and absorb the Fate.
Reinforcements
At the end of the overlord's turn, if there are no Flesh Shapers on the board, place 1 Flesh Shaper on a free water space.
Victory
If at the start of the overlord's turn there are no monsters on the board, read the following text aloud:
Blissful silence fills the ancient temple. Gazing at the calm lake, you see your entire life. As you run your fingers across the surface of the water, what you saw ripples and changes. Here you can rewrite your life.
The heroes win!
If all 4 quest tokens are on water spaces, read the following text aloud:
When the creature exhales a red mist into the water, the lake turns red as blood. The terrible beast takes a deep gulp. And you see how, there in the lake, your future is rewritten. The forces opposing you grow even stronger. Every future victory that fate had prepared for you has been rewritten into uncertainty and potential death.
The overlord wins!
Rewards
If the heroes win, they receive the Heroes' Reward printed on the back of the Bonus Quest card "Crown of Destiny".
If the overlord wins, he receives the Overlord Reward printed on the back of the Bonus Quest card "Crown of Destiny".