The Lair Crew takes on Shadowdark as they play Kelsey Dionne's free Raiders of the Hidden Temple adventure. In the first actual play episode, they venture into a snake-infested dungeon, discovering dangerous monsters and potential allies.

Get the dungeon: EnWorld - Kelsey Dionne publishes two new free Shadowdark adventures

New to Shadowdark? Get the free Shadowdark RPG Quickstart Set from the Arcane Library.

The quickstart set includes example characters, essential rules, and a ready-to-play dungeon.

Want to know more about Shadowdark? Check out our episode "d12 Reasons Shadowdark is Awesome!"

Chapters

0:00 Intro & Setup – Welcome to Shadowdark in Foundry VTT

6:30 The Temple Doors & Snake Trap Puzzle

14:10 The Hypnotic Pool & The Emerald Dive

22:40 Meeting the Snakefolk & The Cursed Dilemma

31:15 Bloodthirsty Prisoner & Party Tensions Rise

39:50 Enter the Chapel & Alessa's Mission

48:00 Ambush! The Vampirodile Attacks

59:45 Blood, Magic & Betrayal – Combat Escalates

1:16:00 The Final Blow & Tactical Retreat

1:29:00 Aftermath, Drumbeats & What Comes Next

Cast of Characters

Zorax the Unready (Chris) – Wizard

A classically trained wizard with a spell book full of utility and a knack for casting magic missile, Zorax is more scholar than adventurer—often pondering the mystical while his party dives headlong into danger. Ever curious but slightly aloof, he has a cautious presence, offering magical firepower and insightful observations from the back line.

Rilmorn (Josh) – Thief

Impulsive, chaotic, and famously unlucky, Rilmorn dives into danger with zero hesitation—whether it’s belly-crawling ahead of the group, swallowing a gem, or stabbing a snake-person mid-negotiation. He embodies the archetypal rogue with a wild streak, equal parts comic relief and terrifying wild card.

Anders (Ken) – Fighter (Sea Wolf)

A spear-wielding berserker blessed by old gods, Anders charges headfirst into combat with bravado, charisma, and minimal regard for tactics or consequences. He’s a blend of Conan the Barbarian and Thor with a concussion—smiling as he stabs and only asking questions after the bodies hit the floor.

Lila (Erin) – Priest

Wise and pragmatic, Lila serves as the moral compass and healing backbone of the group, unafraid to challenge poor decisions or channel divine wrath when undead monstrosities strike. Calm under pressure but quick to act when needed, she blesses weapons, turns the undead, and debates with bloodthirsty prisoners without flinching.

Listen to the Episode

Watch to the Episode

Watch Raiders of the Lost Temple, Part 1/3 on YouTube.

Show Notes

The setting is a jungle temple with Indiana Jones vibes.

The ruleset is Shadowdark.

Major events in the episode

Party decrypts a reptilian phrase: “A snake shall always find safe passage”

First major trap revealed—players must crawl under or face slicing spears

Mysterious pool hypnotizes players with serpent-like reflections

Rogue Rilmorn dives in, swallows a gem, and later becomes a one-man blood detector

Players encounter snake-headed humanoids claiming to be cursed by a wizard named Gorgoroth

Trust issues spike as Rilmorn executes a cold-blooded backstab, using the corpse as bait

A massive undead crocodile (vampirodile) attacks, draining HP and Constitution

Intense combat ensues—players burn luck points and divine smites to survive

Final blow delivered by Anders wielding a newly-blessed spear

Featured Image Meta

Black-and-white artwork from the Raiders of the Lost Temple module.