D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa

The D series adventure continues, and this module uses the exact same format as the last: two minor encounters followed by one major keyed location at the end, with the rest of the action determined by how lost the party wants to get in the maze of surrounding tunnels.

• This module is notable to me for including what I consider to be the very first NPC in any module.  Now technical there were some in previous modules, but usually they were prisoners meant to be freed by the party, like the siren in Tomb of Horrors or the storm giantess in Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl.  To me, a true NPC is a character who has 1) a name, 2) a personality, and 3) an encounter with the party whose outcome depends on how the party roleplays.  Enter Thoopshib, a slightly insane rogue Kuo-Toa who operates a ferry across an underground river that the party must negotiate with.  History should have remembered you better, Thoopshib.
• This module is a little light on content.  After dealing with Thoopshib to get across the river and encountering some deep gnomes who might accompany the party, we jump straight to the titular shrine itself.  The shrine is a bit of a strange place, as the Kuo-Toa are not automatically hostile to the party.  If they wish, the party can sight-see the shrine and just pass through, making it a very short adventure.  The party really has to go looking for trouble in the shrine.  Now that's a nice change of pace from the norm, which usually involves busting down the door of some place where the party expects pretty much everything to be hostile, but it's a little strange for the climax of the module.
• The Kuo-Toa deity Blibdoolpoolp is introduced here, and the party can meet her if they desire, which again just seems strange.  Using her altar that is the focus of the shrine teleports the user to the elemental plane of water in her presence.  Making a sufficient offering to her grants the user a small favor, plus the ability to speak Kuo-Toan, so yeah.
• One thing I haven't commented on before is Gary's writing style.  He is obviously very well read and has an extensive vocabulary which he does not hesitate to use.  Quite often he'll use words far out of the norm. For example, one of the locations in the shrine is referred to as a seraglio.  That's just another word for harem, but darn if I knew that without looking it up.  I can never tell if he does it on purpose to show off or not.

That's all for this module.  We finish up the D series next time with Vault of the Drow.