RuneQuest: Stealing the Eye (Adventure Review)

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When it comes to fantasy TTRPGs, RuneQuest has always marched to the beat of its own bronze war drum. While other games lean heavily into dungeon crawls, monster slaying and murder hobo-style looting, RuneQuest doubles down on myth, culture and the often messy relationships between mortals and the gods they worship.

A new RuneQuest scenario from Chaosium, however, offers a premise that wouldn’t be out of place in an old school D&D module. Entitled Stealing the Eye, the adventure involves players infiltrating a heavily guarded temple to steal a gemstone from the statue of a moon goddess. It’s a classic set up that’s available now as a PDF from Chaosium or DriveThruRPG.

So does this new adventure deliver the Gloranthan goods? Below, we dig into all the details.

What is “RuneQuest: Stealing the Eye” about?

Stealing the Eye is a 17-page standalone RuneQuest scenario set in 1625 ST near the border of Tarsh; a remote area under the control of the oppressive Lunar Empire. The adventurers are members of a group of rebels from the Orlanthi tribes who are tasked with fighting back against the Empire by infiltrating a temple rededicated to Yara Aranis, the Goddess of the Reaching Moon. Their mission: pry a massive opal gem from the statue’s forehead and escape before sunrise.

Notably, the scenario was inspired by artist Tom Sullivan’s iconic cover for the 1985 RuneQuest supplement Gods of Glorantha, which itself was an homage to the famous Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook cover from 1978 (the latter of which has since been replicated and reimagined in a variety of other materials).

In true RuneQuest fashion, however, the scenario is more than just a simple heist. It turns out that the temple was originally dedicated to an Earth goddess before being repurposed by the Lunars, which offers some unique opportunities for creative problem solving by players.

Mechanically, the scenario is clean and easy to run without any railroading. In fact, the infiltration offers multiple approaches and the finale can unfold in dramatically different ways depending on how the players engage with the temple’s mythic undercurrents. The adventure also includes four fully detailed pre-generated characters. This makes it a great option for new players using the RuneQuest Starter Set, while still offering enough depth to satisfy Gloaranthan grognards.

Is “RuneQuest: Stealing the Eye” worth picking up?

Pros

• A reimagined old-school premise: This is classic fantasy adventure design: sneak into a temple, steal a gem from a statue and escape alive. It’s clearly an homage to early RuneQuest and AD&D modules, but at the same time it never feels cliched.
• Strong mythic integration: The inclusion of certain mystical elements in the scenario reinforce RuneQuest’s central theme that gods and worship matter.
• Focused, one-night play: At 17 pages, it’s tight and efficient. You can realistically run this in a single 3-4 hour session without feeling rushed.
• High tension finale: Without giving away any major spoilers, it has a solid climax that’s flexible and likely going to satisfy players of all experience levels with the game.

Cons

• Lethal for brand-new groups: RuneQuest combat can be unforgiving and what happens in the scenario can be especially punishing. Poor planning or bad rolls can spiral quickly.
• Lore density for newcomers: While designed to work with the Starter Set, the political context of Tarsh and Lunar occupation may require a little bit of explanation for first-time players.
• A little on the pricey side: Retailing for $6.99 USD, it’s a little on the pricey side for what you get it. That being said, it’s not going to break the bank either.
• Limited scope: This is a self-contained scenario set in a single location. Players hoping for more lore or details on the Dragon Pass won’t find it here.

Final Thoughts & Review Score

Stealing the Eye succeeds because it knows exactly what it wants to be: a myth-charged heist inspired by a classic fantasy premise. And while it might be a little punishing for new players, it’s also short, satisfying and versatile. In short, it’s both a love letter to old school RPG modules and an example of the kind of modern adventure design that make RuneQuest so unique.

Final Review Score: 18 out of 20

You can pick up a PDF of Stealing the Eye now from Chaosium or DriveThruRPG.