If you’ve never heard of Mistress of the Ghost City, don’t feel too bad, it’s one of those deep cut, under the radar modules from the early days of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Released in 1978, this adventure is often overshadowed by bigger names like Tomb of Horrors or The Keep on the Borderlands, but for those who have braved its haunted streets, it remains an eerie and memorable experience. With its blend of ghostly horror, urban exploration, and classic dungeon crawling, Mistress of the Ghost City is an intriguing example of what made early D&D so special.

A Brief History of Mistress of the Ghost City

Published in 1978, Mistress of the Ghost City was an independent third party module, one of many unofficial adventures released in the wake of D&D’s exploding popularity. While it never reached the fame of TSR’s own adventures, it did develop a cult following among players who loved its eerie, otherworldly atmosphere.

The module was written by an enigmatic designer named J. Eric Holmes (not to be confused with the more famous John Eric Holmes of the D&D Basic Set). J. Eric Holmes had a knack for blending gothic horror with traditional fantasy, and Mistress of the Ghost City is a testament to that. Unfortunately, due to limited print runs and the ephemeral nature of third party content in the late ’70s, this adventure never got the widespread recognition it deserved.

Setting: The Ghost City of Tarntis

The adventure takes place in the ruined city of Tarntis, a once thriving metropolis that was mysteriously abandoned centuries ago. The few locals who live on its outskirts tell whispered tales of spectral figures wandering its crumbling streets and warn adventurers that those who enter seldom return.

According to the adventure’s lore, Tarntis fell under a terrible curse after a failed rebellion against a tyrannical wizard queen known as Lady Saryth. When her forces were overwhelmed, Saryth unleashed a forbidden spell that wiped out the city’s inhabitants, binding their souls to the ruins forever. Now, she rules as an undead sorceress, the titular Mistress of the Ghost City, while her spectral minions prowl the alleyways, seeking to trap the living in their cursed existence.

The Adventure Structure

Unlike traditional dungeon crawls that focus heavily on underground labyrinths, Mistress of the Ghost City is an urban sandbox adventure with strong horror elements. Players must navigate a spectral-infested city, uncovering secrets and deciding whether to face Saryth directly or find another way to break the curse. The module provides multiple paths for success, including combat, diplomacy, and puzzle solving.

Some key locations in the adventure include:

• The Shrouded Market – An eerie, spectral bazaar where ghostly merchants still hawk wares. The trick? The items they sell are just as cursed as they are useful.
• The Hollow Tower – A collapsed wizard’s tower that serves as a nest for shadowy wraiths and holds long-forgotten arcane knowledge.
• The Temple of Echoes – A place of eerie silence where the voices of the dead whisper cryptic warnings.
• The Queen’s Keep – The final confrontation with Lady Saryth takes place here, but reaching it means surviving the city’s spectral guardians.

What Makes It Unique?

1. A City, Not a Dungeon

Unlike many early D&D modules, Mistress of the Ghost City emphasizes verticality and urban exploration rather than just moving from room to room underground. Players must navigate rooftops, crumbling bridges, and haunted avenues, making movement and strategy crucial.

2. Negotiation with the Dead

One of the adventure’s standout mechanics is its heavy use of roleplay with spectral NPCs. Ghosts in Tarntis retain fragments of their past selves, and clever players can extract vital information, items, or even allies from them, if they can decipher their riddles and half forgotten memories.

3. A Truly Unsettling Atmosphere

While D&D adventures often include horror elements, Mistress of the Ghost City leans fully into the eerie. The constant presence of unseen eyes, ghostly murmurs, and shifting shadows makes players feel like intruders in a realm that does not welcome them.

Challenges for Players

• The Ever-Present Curse – Spending too much time in the city starts to affect the party, leading to random haunting effects, memory loss, and spectral possession.
• Combat Isn’t Always the Answer – Many of the ghosts cannot be defeated through brute force; clever problem-solving and magic use are key to survival.
• Resource Management – Normal food, water, and even torches behave strangely in Tarntis, adding an extra layer of survival difficulty.

Legacy and Influence

Despite its limited print run, Mistress of the Ghost City inspired later adventures that leaned into supernatural horror and urban decay, such as Ravenloft and The City of the Spider Queen. The concept of an accursed city filled with restless dead has become a staple of dark fantasy settings, and echoes of Tarntis can be found in countless ghost haunted locales across D&D’s history.

Though it remains a rare find, the module’s legacy lives on in the eerie, city-based adventures that have followed in its spectral wake.

Final Thoughts

For those who love eerie, atmospheric adventures, Mistress of the Ghost City is a hidden gem worth exploring, if you can find a copy. It’s a module that challenges players to think outside the box, rewards creativity, and delivers an experience that feels truly unique. Whether you’re brave enough to face Lady Saryth or just eager to explore the haunted streets of Tarntis, this is one D&D adventure that deserves to be remembered.

Now, who’s ready to buy a slightly cursed artifact from a ghostly merchant?