HEXplore It: The Valley of the Dead King – Living Card Deck
HEXplore It: The Valley of the Dead King – Living Card Deck Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Living Card Campaign
Welcome to the Valley of the Dead King Living Card campaign. When you draw a Living card while playing the Valley of the Dead King, you may choose to keep the Living Card in play in its respectable slot (instead of discarding once completed). Advance to the next month's content if you interact with the slot in the future.
- If you've drawn the "What was that?" or "Bezzelquark's Special Favor" card, navigate to the current month and play the card shown below.
- If you've drawn the "Shrine of the Seasons" card, play the Shrine of the Seasons February card first.
Good luck adventurers!
How the months are arranged
The campaign page is arranged in monthly tabs, February through January. Each month holds three Living cards, one of each type:
- What was that? — an event, encounter, treasure, nature, or affliction card.
- Bezzelquark's Special Favor — a quest card for the Black Market.
- Shrine of the Seasons — a numbered quest chain. Shrine card 1 is the February card, card 2 the March card, and so on through card 12 (January).
Card titles below are as printed. Text is transcribed verbatim from the card scans. Where a card shows a symbol instead of a word, the symbol is named as it appears in the base rulebook (for example, the boot symbol is Navigate, the eye is Explore, and the flame is Survival); symbols with no name in the base rulebook are marked as such.
February
What was that? — Frozen Traveler
Treasure
You stumble upon an unmoving traveler. The cloaked figure is frozen solid, and in the palm of his hand is a gemstone which swirls with a pale blue light. When you gaze upon it, a fierce blizzard begins to rage across the land. It remains for the next 5 Game Turns.
If any hero fails Survival during the Skill phase, they suffer 3 Nonlethal Health damage. If this damage would have killed your hero, roll Survival again. If you fail again, your hero dies.
If the group survives the blizzard, they become immune to both the Cursed and Frozen Conditions.
Bezzelquark's Special Favor — Navigate
Skill: Navigate. 1 success required. Location: any Mountain Peak hex.
You find a mechanical box, half frozen in the snow.
Upon inspection, a hidden note reads: "Press the button and try the sled! Let me know how it works. -Bezzelquark"
Use Bezzelquark's mechanical sled to travel down the steep mountain. You may complete this Quest up to 4 times on different peaks, gaining rewards for each turn in.
Each time you attempt this Quest each hero loses 2 Health and roll one ten-sided die. On a result of a hex, the group must face the Storm Wolves Encounter.
This Quest may only be turned in at the Black Market.
Critical Success: +1 Navigate (boot symbol).
Reward: 1 Power Up card.
Shrine of the Seasons, card 1 — Dual
Dual quest: Navigate and Explore. 1 success each required.
The elven priestess Miera believes it is important to teach you the history of the Noble. She charges you with retreading his footsteps as he investigated the disturbance of the Time Vault.
This mysterious gate is a passage to a realm beyond this world, where the machinations that govern reality are rumored to reside.
She says you will find the Time Vault near the heart of the Cryovolcano, deep underground.
This Quest may only be turned in at the Shrine of Seasons.
Reward: 2 Power Up cards.
March
What was that? — Shadow!
Spirit. Encounter, Level 5.
Health 20. Energy 14. Group Reward: 3 (gold hex), 0 (silver hex).
Action key (roll the six-sided die):
- 1 — Attack (red), damage 10: Single target Energy. The Shadow cannot suffer Health damage if it has Energy.
- 2–4 — Mastery (purple), Energy cost 2 (default action when short on Energy is the Attack shown at 1/2, the red sword symbol): Dual Target Health. Roll the six-sided die as the damage dealt. This die HEXplodes on a result of 1 and hex.
- 5 or hex — Special (dark gray), damage 6: Group Health, Energy, and Survival. Piercing: 4. Those who fail are Cursed.
Bezzelquark's Special Favor — Aid
Escort. Location: any Stronghold hex.
Word on the street is Bezzelquark is after special heating stones to thaw his new invention: a copter that might even fly.
Travel to any Dwarven Stronghold and purchase them for 2 Gold each. Bring him a total of 3, and he'll be able to thaw his machine.
Challenge: Camp in one of the Strongholds and you'll find a Dwarven Engineer who can help get the copter up and running. Escort him to Bezzelquark. If you do, he'll reward you with a ride in his copter. You may use it like a Teleportation Rune to leave the Black Market.
This Quest may only be turned in at the Black Market.
Escort: Health 4, Defend 5.
Reward: 1 Power Up card.
Shrine of the Seasons, card 2 — Dual
Dual quest: Explore and Survival. 1 success each required.
You have found the Time Vault under the Cyrovolcano!
Strange runes were written around the gate that mention the Noble, but many were illegible. Miera has given you a journal that helps decipher them, but the journal is missing several pages.
Travel to an old tomb near the Scholar's Shrine and attempt to recover them.
After you attempt this Quest, you find you're not alone. Search for the "Apparition!" Encounter and defeat it. The encounter is considered Dangerous.
This Quest may only be turned in at the Shrine of Seasons.
Reward: 2 Power Up cards.
April
What was that? — Double Rainbow
Nature. Unavoidable.
The party sees a double rainbow all the way across the sky.
You are overwhelmed with a sense of peace and tranquility. For the next 5 Game Turns you may choose the Circumstance the group faces. Additionally, each hero Heals 1 extra Health and Energy before the Movement Phase. This effect stacks with similar effects.
Bezzelquark's Special Favor — Navigate
Skill: Navigate. 1 success required. Location: the center hexes of HEXtiles G, L, and N.
Bezzelquark's experimental time machine has exploded and pieces of it are hovering, frozen in time! Place Quest tokens on the center hex of HEXtiles G, L, and N. Travel to these locations and roll Explore to find and recover the lost pieces.
Challenge: Bezzelquark requires a rare pearl that Syv the Siren Queen possesses. Defeat her and return the lost pieces and he'll create a machine capable of slowing the King. The Dead King permanently moves 2 hexes slower (to a minimum of 1).
This Quest may only be turned in at the Black Market.
Critical Success: +1 Health (heart symbol).
Reward: 5 Gold and 2 Power Up cards.
Shrine of the Seasons, card 3 — Explore
Explore quest.
You've located the missing pages and used them to decipher the runes found in the Time Vault. They speak of a woman named Adrimon pursued by the Noble.
Travel to any of the six Cities to gather information about this mysterious figure.
You may choose one of the following methods to gain the information and complete the Quest: locate and face the "Brigands!" Encounter, pay 3 Gold per hero, or make 2 successful Explore rolls.
This Quest may only be turned in at the Shrine of Seasons.
Reward: 1 Power Up card.
May
What was that? — The Great Faire
Event.
You come upon a magnificent Faire celebrating the end of Spring leading into the fertile Summer months. Each hero may choose to participate in one or more events by spending 2 Gold for each event.
- Hedge Maze (boot symbol, green) — Navigate
- Archery Range (eye symbol, yellow) — Explore
- Pie Eating (flame symbol, blue) — Survival
Any hero who succeeds at the appropriate Skill roll for an event wins that event. If more than one hero enters the same event, the hero whose Skill succeeds by the greatest amount is the winner. Each winner earns any item from the Black Market or Shrine valued at 6 Gold or less.
Bezzelquark's Special Favor — Explore
Skill: Explore. 1 success required. Location: any River hex.
There is a rare flower that only blooms one week each year. This particular flora is easy to identify, however, because it doesn't have petals, rather its nectar filled center is wreathed in small intricate gears.
End movement on any river tile to attempt this Quest. Half the party must succeed the Explore roll to harvest one set of Gear Petals. Harvest 3 sets then return to the Black Market and Bezzelquark will give you the Stave of Dragons.
This Quest may only be turned in at the Black Market.
Critical Success: +1 to your choice of Skill (the "Your Choice" symbol).
Reward: 1 Power Up card.
Shrine of the Seasons, card 4 — Special
Special quest.
You have discovered that Adrimon is the legendary Magi that is rumored to reside in the Greenfire Forest far to the west.
Most denizens of the Valley believe her to be a myth, a tale told to scare children. But it would seem she was once the quarry of the Noble. He knew he needed to understand this new power of hers if he had any hopes of stopping her, so he sought out the Scholar of Cirnwell Lake. And so must you, traveler.
Travel to the Shrine. Once you arrive, search the Quest deck for the Dual Quest that shares this location and complete it. Return to the Shrine of Seasons to turn in both Quests at the same time.
Reward: 1 Power Up card.
June
What was that? — Solstice Sacrifice
Event.
You find a group of cyclops preparing to sacrifice a poor traveler to their barbaric sun deity. You may choose to intervene, or observe the ritual.
If you intervene, search for the "Cyclops!" Encounter and face it, these foes are Dangerous. If you are victorious, gain a Power-up in addition to the normal rewards.
If you choose to observe the ritual, search for the "Pleasant Weather" Nature card. It takes effect immediately, stays in play for 6 Game Turns, and cannot be negated by other Nature cards.
Bezzelquark's Special Favor — Aid
Escort. Location: quadrant C, City hex 1.
Bezzelquark's one and only daughter, his "pride 'n joy", is getting married. But he's just too busy to make the journey. Fortunately he's convinced that an automaton made in his likeness, programmed with some of his favorite quips, should be sufficient to walk with his daughter down the aisle on what is sure to be the worst day of her life.
However he needs you to ensure the crude contraption arrives safely, lest his daughters wedding be ruined (or saved?).
Escort Bezzelbot from the Black Market to Fain'hil to receive your reward. Bezzelbot gains a +3 penalty to its target die.
This Quest may only be turned in at the Black Market.
Escort: Health 15, Defend 5.
Reward: 5 Gold and 1 Power Up card.
Shrine of the Seasons, card 5 — Navigate
Skill: Navigate. 4 successes required. Location: quadrant C, City hex 1.
The Scholar of Cirnwell Lake has given you some valuable information about the Noble. It would seem that he was part of a larger group, one that included the other three paragons!
After they uncovered the Time Vault, they didn't know what to make of the strange place. They traveled together to the City of Silver to tell the elves of their discovery.
Escort Miera to the City of Silver, and seek out their contact, an archmage by the name of Revaelin. She may not be easy to find. This Quest may only be turned in at the City of Silver.
Critical Success: +1 to your choice of Skill (the "Your Choice" symbol).
Escort: Health 11, Defend 7.
Reward: 2 Power Up cards.
July
What was that? — Wandering Wizard
Event.
A strange old man in a weathered grey cloak approaches. He introduces himself as Agaeth. He's heard the tale of your noble task to end the Dead King's march, and while he cannot depose of the undead tyrant himself (for reasons he will not elaborate on) he wishes to aid you in your journey.
Agaeth joins the group. All heroes receive a -1 bonus to all Skill rolls during each Event phase (due to his extensive knowledge and guidance). If Agaeth is not targeted in a combat round, his Defend value is applied to a random group member who would suffer damage this round.
Escort: Health 10, Defend 5.
Bezzelquark's Special Favor — Survival
Skill: Survival. 2 successes required. Location: quadrant B.
As summer carries on and snow from the mountains continues to melt, streams swell, carrying torrents of water down into the fertile valley. One such stream ends at Crystal Falls. The water at the top of the falls has a special property thanks to a crystal resting there, which is essential for keeping certain inventions of the infamous gnome running smoothly.
A successful Survival roll allows a hero to retrieve 1 cask of this Enchanted Water. Only 1 cask may be carried by a hero at any time. Bezzelquark will pay each hero 2 Gold for each cask they bring to him.
This Quest may only be turned in at the Black Market.
Critical Success: +1 Health (heart symbol).
Reward: 1 Power Up card.
Shrine of the Seasons, card 6 — Aid
Aid quest. Location: quadrant H (the Great Tree).
Together with Miera's help, you have found the Archmage Revaelin! In speaking with the mysterious elf, you've learned a great deal about the four paragons and their fated quest.
When the Noble and his allies told the elves of their discovery, they were practically ignored. Preoccupied with the exodus of their people, they cared little about a discovery found in the dwarven tunnels.
Revaelin knew they needed to gain favor of the elves, for only they could unlock the secrets of the Time Vault. The Scholar, an illumen named Shaesi, decided their next step. Follow in their footsteps and travel to the Great Tree with Miera. This Quest may be immediately turned in there.
Escort: Health 11, Defend 7.
Reward: 2 Power Up cards.
August
What was that? — Swirling Murder
Event. Unavoidable.
Hundreds of crows have been following you for some time and their numbers continue to grow such that they have formed a large, twisting black mass in the sky. Signalling your location to any foes for miles.
While Swirling Murder is in effect, during the Circumstance phase you may not ignore, modify, or discard any Circumstance cards. When rolling a Circumstance, if the result is not an Encounter take the card and set aside. Replace the slot, then roll again and continue this cycle until an Encounter is rolled. Resolve all drawn cards in order, then face the Encounter. Once the Encounter is defeated proceed to the next phase. This lasts for 4 Game Turns.
Bezzelquark's Special Favor — Aid
Aid quest. Location: quadrant D.
Bezzelquark sold a prototype water purifier to the elder of a troll village. Unfortunately his charges have destroyed it, claiming it was black magic.
Purchase the Broken Purifier from the troll elder for 10 Gold and return it to Bezzelquark. He will reimburse you 10 Gold and give you a fully functional Water Purifier which provides the group with 1 Food every Skill phase and whenever a hero gains a Condition, they may roll a ten-sided die. If the result is less than or equal to their current Health, the Condition is Negated.
This Quest may only be turned in at the Black Market.
Reward: 1 Power Up card.
Shrine of the Seasons, card 7 — Special
Special quest. Location: quadrant H (the Great Tree).
You've made it to the great tree with Miera and have met a Grove Keeper named Caeldwen. You attempt to speak with him about the Scholar, but he remains aloof to your inquiries.
The paragons were met with similar disinterest on their journey, but they proved themselves to the Keepers by completing dangerous tasks.
Defeat four or more Encounters and return to this Quest location to turn in this Quest. For each Encounter you defeat, Caeldwen will increase each hero's Health rank by 1 (this increases current and maximum).
Reward: 1 Power Up card.
September
What was that? — Hilgar's Folly
Affliction. Draw one more card.
This rare disease is said to have been created by the gods to punish the dwarf Hilgar for desecrating a temple. Though it is said two of the Divines took pity on him.
Pray to the Goddess of Light: Treat your Health, Attack, and First Mastery as being half their Rank.
Pray to the Goddess of Wisdom: Treat your Energy, Defend, and Second Mastery as being half their rank.
If you pray to neither, suffer both the penalties above. This Affliction remains for 4 Game Turns or until you rid yourself of it.
Bezzelquark's Special Favor — Explore
Skill: Explore. 1 or more successes required. Location: any City or Shrine (the castle and cross symbols on the card).
Gnomish inventors typically don't bake. They do, however, invent machines that will bake for them. Bezzelquark is ready to produce more Pie-o-Matics but needs people to sell them to. He would like you to go to each City in the valley and try to sell machines to bakers and other investors.
While this Quest is active, the group may roll Explore when you enter a City or Shrine. If at least half the group succeeds, you have sold machines there.
You may only attempt this once per location. Return to the Black Market to turn in this Quest and Bezzelquark will give you 1 Gear Upgrade for every City you sold in.
Reward: 1 Power Up card.
Shrine of the Seasons, card 8 — Survival
Skill: Survival. 1 success required. Location: quadrant H (the Great Tree).
Impressed with your strength of character, Caeldwen believes you are ready to learn the full story of the Paragons. He tasks you with one last trial: follow Telkaro's footsteps.
The demonborn, also known as the Traveler, uncovered a cave system under the roots of this Great Tree. Follow it to its end to complete Caeldwen's trail.
If successful, locate the Cave System Circumstance and play it in this location. If you are successful, you emerge here and may gain this Quest's rewards immediately.
Critical Success: +1 Attack (red crossed swords symbol).
Reward: 2 Power Up cards.
October
What was that? — Trick or Treat
Event.
You happen upon a small village that is holding a fall celebration. The residents ask each member of the party, "Trick or Treat?" Each hero may choose one:
Trick: Roll against any 1 Skill of your choice. If you succeed, gain any 1 item of 8 Gold or less from any location that sells items. If any hero fails, the group must face the "Fallen City" opponent, but does not need a Talisman during the fight.
Treat: Gain either 1 Ration or 1 Potion. If all heroes choose Treat, one hero rolls 3 ten-sided dice. For each hex rolled, the group draws a Power Up card and each hero gains the reward.
Bezzelquark's Special Favor — Survival
Skill: Survival. 3 successes required. Location: any Mountain Peak hex.
Winter is right around the corner and Bezzelquark is none too pleased.
Fortunately, he believes he has invented a way to stop the coming winter. He gives you 3 Atmospheric Inhibitors and instructs you to place each one on a different mountain peak. Each may be placed during the Movement phase, but require a Survival roll to place.
Return to the Black Market to receive the Quest rewards and gain Bezzelquark's stock of Winter Gear. The weather resistant equipment provides the group with -1 to Survival rolls during the Skill Phase and the group may discard 1 rolled Nature card during the Circumstance phase.
Critical Success: +2 Energy (fist symbol).
Reward: 5 Gold and 1 Power Up card.
Shrine of the Seasons, card 9 — Special
Special quest. Location: any Forest hex.
Far underground, you've accomplished Caeldwen's last trial. Satisfied with your dedication and show of bravery, the Grove Keeper gives you a faintly glowing ivy ring and instructs you to seek out Elowen, the mother of all dryads. He is confident that you'll find the information you're looking for with her. The trick may be figuring out how to use the device.
This Quest may only be attempted in a Forest hex. Roll all three Skill dice. The heroes must succeed on all three rolls, at least twice, in order for the group to proceed. If you do, you manage to find Elowen and speak with her about the four Paragons.
When you succeed, immediately gain the Quest rewards and then advance the Dead King by 4 Game Turns.
Reward: Power Up cards (a stack of several card icons; the exact count is not legible in the scan transcription).
November
What was that? — Yeti!
Monstrous Humanoid. Encounter, Level 4.
Health 20. Energy 15. Group Reward: 6 (gold hex), 3 (silver hex).
Action key (roll the six-sided die):
- 1–2 — Attack (red), damage 7: Block: 4. Single target Health. The target becomes Wounded.
- 3–4 — Mastery (purple), damage 6, Energy cost 5 (default action when short on Energy is the Attack at half value): Group Energy. Targets who suffer damage are Blinded.
- 5 or hex — Special (dark gray), damage 3: Defend: 8. Single target Health. Roll a ten-sided die. On a roll of 4 or less, the target is Frozen.
Bezzelquark's Special Favor — Explore
Skill: Explore. 1 success required.
Bezzelquark has invented a new type of automaton which runs on a special grain alcohol quite efficiently. Unfortunately one of the ingredients for this alcohol is regulated quite heavily by the Farmer's Guild.
Travel to Dragon's Port to bribe the Guild Master. Once there the group must roll Explore. If half the group is successful you have bribed the official. If you fail, you must travel to Restwind Dale to bribe the farmer there. If you fail again discard this Quest.
If you succeed in either attempt, return to the Black Market to receive 10 Gold each and 2 Teleportation Runes he acquired from the nearby Shrine.
Critical Success: +1 (pinwheel symbol, not named in the base rulebook).
Reward: 1 Power Up card.
Shrine of the Seasons, card 10 — Explore
Skill: Explore. 2 successes required. Location: quadrant M (the Deadlands fortress).
Your last Quest was fruitful. Elowen told you much about the Four Paragons. You've learned that the four sought her aid in destroying Adrimon. The dryad attempted to help them, casting a Revival Ritual that tied their lives together, making them stronger.
When one would fall, the others would revive so long as one of the four still stood. And this is where everything went wrong.
She instructs you to locate an ancient Fortress nestled in the heart of the Deadlands. Explore the keep and look for the Noble's Tomb. When you succeed, immediately gain the Quest rewards and play the 10th Ruin event in this location.
Critical Success: +1 (purple lightning symbol, not named in the base rulebook).
Reward: 2 Power Up cards.
December
What was that? — Defaced Abacus
Treasure.
Once an artifact sacred to Nho'ohn, the demigod of Balance, this small brass abacus is adorned with beads of precious gems and beautiful stones. Along the top of the frame was once an engraving that has now been rendered illegible. Along the bottom, a warning has been scratched into the metal frame, it reads:
"Lose much to gain little."
During combat when you use an Ability, you may Boost it by 5 this round. Next round during the Declaration phase, suffer 5 Energy Drain.
Bezzelquark's Special Favor — Navigate
Skill: Navigate. 3 successes required. Location: any Mountain Peak hex.
Bezzelquark is not one to admit a mistake, but the fact that winter has undeniably arrived proves that one of his recent experiments has unfortunately failed. He needs you to travel to various mountain peaks around the valley.
At each one the group must roll Navigate. If half the group is successful you have recovered the Atmospheric Inhibitor there. This roll may be made during the Movement phase. Recover 3 Atmospheric Inhibitors and return to the Black Market.
The crafty gnome gives the group a battle bot. Your Fortification gains an extra die of damage against your enemies.
Critical Success: +1 Health (heart symbol).
Reward: 2 Power Up cards.
Shrine of the Seasons, card 11 — Dual
Dual quest: Navigate and Survival. 1 success each required. Location: quadrant M (the Deadlands fortress).
You've found a tomb hidden under the Fortress, but the Dead King is approaching. The Bone Legion's sudden appearance outside can't be a coincidence, can it?
Make haste and barricade into the upper tower. If you can, you uncover a dangerous secret. This place was once the Noble's home, and tapestries of the man reveal his resemblance to the Dead King!
The Dead King arrives here at the end of the Event phase. If you're not ready to face him, roll Navigate and Survival again. If you succeed, you locate a secret passage and may move to the Ruin on this HEXtile.
This Quest may only be turned in at the Shrine of Seasons.
Reward: 2 Power Up cards.
January
What was that? — Blizzard
Nature. Unavoidable.
A raging blizzard howls all around you. There seems to be no shelter from its fury.
For the next 5 Game Turns, Movement speed is halved (including Cautious Movement) and the party suffers a +2 penalty to Navigate rolls during the Skill and Event phases.
If the Storm Wolves Encounter is in the Circumstance deck, search for it, shuffle the deck, then place it on top of the deck.
Bezzelquark's Special Favor — Special
Special quest. Location: quadrant C.
The usually jolly gnome is furious! He colorfully describes how his caravan was attacked by a group of 'no-good hooligans' made desperate by the fierce winter.
He would like you to remind them why they should fear him more than the icy weather. When you arrive at the Quest location, search for the Bandits and Brigands Encounters and fight them simultaneously.
Gain double the combat rewards and return to the Black Market to receive the Quest rewards.
Reward: 2 Power Up cards.
Shrine of the Seasons, card 12 — Aid
Aid quest. Location: quadrant N.
You've uncovered that the Dead King was once the Noble who faced Adrimon. Travel to the Shrine of Seasons to complete this Quest.
You arrive to find Elowen and the priestess Miera waiting for you. Elowen reveals the rest of the story. The ritual she cast upon the Paragons was meant to save them if any would perish against the Magi. She didn't realize that the Noble had corruption in his heart.
The four did face her, but it wasn't the Magi who dealt their killing blow. The Noble himself wiped out his companions. In killing them he corrupted the ritual and changed forever, into the Dead King.
Reward: 2 Power Up cards.
Notes on this transcription
- Icons. Where a card shows a symbol instead of a word, the symbol is named from the base rulebook's conventions (boot = Navigate, eye = Explore, flame = Survival, heart = Health, red crossed swords = Attack, fist = Energy). Symbols the base rulebook does not name (the pinwheel on the Dragon's Port card, the purple lightning on the Deadlands card) are described by shape and marked as unnamed.
- Rewards. Power Up counts are read from the number of card icons on each card. A stack of several icons on the Shrine of the Seasons, card 9 quest could not be counted reliably, so its count is left unstated.
- Missing material. The Living Card Deck box insert, which carries its own instructions, was not available to this transcription. The Peril-card draw rule, which the box insert is understood to hold, does not appear in the publisher's Living Cards text or in the card scans, so it is not included here.
- Credits. Attribution lines on the publisher's page are not transcribed.