Old John Stuart’s Mill is the first book in The Witch’s Wyrd, a philosophy-focused adventure series by University of Calgary Philosophy Professor, GenCon speaker and gamemaster Archie Fields III, published by Witch Pleas Publishing. This Level 0 DCC module fuses tabletop roleplaying with philosophical depth, steeped in dark folklore and haunting, character-driven choices. Written for Dungeon Crawl Classcs, this inaugural Witch's Wyrd adventure challenges players not just to survive, but to think.

Set in the richly detailed settlement of Greenspires, a town nestled among the elven ruins of the Hinterwoods of Witch Pleas' Legends of Lohre setting, this tale begins at the cozy Drunken Dragon Inn and escalates quickly. A goblins raid becomes an epidemic of the un-dead, with a zombified child stalking his cellar and a grieving father wielding dark magics. Old John Stuart's Mill is more than a dungeon crawl. It’s a reckoning of morality, justice and consequence.

Old John Stuart's Mill features

• A 28+ page PDF for DCC containing the adventure and an extensive profile on Greenspires, including local customs and history, regional secrets
• "Time to Philosophize" moments of gameplay where players are confronted by ethical challenges based on the texts of John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant
• Over a dozen rumors to inspire adventures around Greenspires and the Hinterwoods
• A table of 12 demented "blessings" from the cursed bard, Ganz, that leave characters empowered but corrupted
• 4+ extra philosophy-based encounters based on classic philosophical conundrums
• Educational materials and guidance proven in a University-level class setting, this adventure doubles as both a teaching resource and a compelling story
• Detailed NPC profiles on the werewolf guardian, Hilde Ashengard, and demon-cursed bard, Ganz Vargle
• Plothooks to weave a world within the Hinterwoods and lay the underpinnings of this five-volume campaign, The Witch's Wyrd.
• All-original, hand-painted art by Stefan Poag, Alexander Moore, and Berly Brumble

What Makes This Module Different?

• Philosophical Depth: Real moral philosophy meets the gritty lethality of a funnel adventure. Your players will grapple with questions about identity, responsibility and justice.
• Branching Narrative Paths: Every encounter, from bumbling goblin refugee to a grieving necromancer father, can lead to decisions that shape the realm of the narrative.
• Tools for GMs & Educators: Rife with classroom-proven advice for running philosophical discussions at the table, this funnel is crafted to make player’s choice matter.
• Start of an Epic Series: Old John Stuart’s Mill is Book One in The Witch’s Wyrd: A Philosophical Tale, the next chapter in Witch Pleas Publishing's Legends of Lohre. 

The World of Lohre Grows with Greenspires

Just as we did with Thorpe in A Tale of Two Sisters, we present a setting, Greenspires, that's filled with secrets, sidequests and NPCs who remember your choices. From the rival blacksmiths locked in a philosophical feud to a haunted chapel where the local cleric refuses to heal in the name of divine will, this setting is primed for free-form play and long-term storytelling. Future adventures in the series expand upon the relationships, rumors and consequences of what players do here.