Caves of Chaos: A Borderland Chronicle

The Borderlands are stirring again. This time, we’re diving into the brand-new Heroes of the Borderland boxed set and turning it into an ongoing series of one-shot adventures we’re calling Caves of Chaos: A Borderland Chronicle. Think of it as part playthrough, part living review, and part nostalgia tour through the Kron Hills of Greyhawk. We’ll be sharing ourgames as live play sessions, blog posts or player video interviews—especially with veterans who remember the original Keep on the Borderlands—to see how WotC’s modern take stacks up against the classic.

For those of you who know my disdain for Wizards of the Coast, don’t worry—our copy came from the wilds of the internet, not the WotC store shelves—so no gold pieces flowed to Wizards or Hasbro.

Straight Into the Action

No slow build-up here. Session 1 begins with our party already standing at the mouth of a shadowed valley—the infamous Caves of Chaos. Rumors of monstrous raids have reached even the farthest farms, and Castellan Winvarle at the Borderland Keep has issued a desperate call for heroes to stem the tide. From the first dice roll, the party will be making choices: four distinct low-level caves await, and depending on time, the group might even clear a second one before the session ends.

A Living Hub for Heroes

Session 2 shifts the scene to the Borderland Keep itself—a place to rest, report, resupply, and recruit. It’s also where new characters and players can seamlessly join the story. After that, every adventure starts at the Keep and heads out for a self-contained one-shot into surrounding wilderness, caves, or new threats. This design keeps the campaign drop-in friendly while still building an evolving world.

Characters, Tone, and Goals

Players choose from a roster of balanced, 1st-level pre-generated heroes or roll their own characters for a personal touch. The tone stays true to classic dungeon-crawl energy: immediate action, clear threats, and a living hub that reacts to your deeds. It’s perfect for rotating players, guest stars, or when your main campaign— in our case, the Princess of Celene arc—needs a breather.

Over time, the party’s successes will shape the Keep’s reputation, earn them allies or enemies, and unlock deeper expeditions into the chaotic wilderness. In short, Caves of Chaos: A Borderland Chronicle isn’t just a one-shot campaign—it’s a launchpad for every Greyhawk side-quest you’ve been wanting to run. Grab your dice and join us on the edge of civilization.

Community Participation

We’re also inviting the broader TTRPG community to join in on the fun. Followers will have the chance to roll dice for random magic items, suggest NPCs, or even appear as guest players in special one-shots. All contributions will be fully credited on our social channels—including X (either through @TMSynd or @WotCoasts), Facebook, and during the livestream —so please include your handles when you participate. This way, everyone gets to shape the Borderlands right alongside us and be recognized for their creativity.

Over time, the party’s successes will shape the Keep’s reputation, earn them allies or enemies, and unlock deeper expeditions into the chaotic wilderness. In short, Caves of Chaos: A Borderland Chronicle isn’t just a one-shot campaign—it’s a launchpad for every Greyhawk side-quest you’ve been wanting to run. Grab your dice and join us on the edge of civilization.