TEXT:  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  ADVENTURE:  
  MAZE OF THE 
  MINOTAUR 
   
  ENCOUNTERS: EIGHT TO TEN 
  DIFFICULTY: HARD 
  DURATION: 60 MINUTES 
   
  DESIGNED AND MAPPED  
  BY  
  JUSTIN HALLIDAY 
   
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Maze of the Minotaur 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 2 
  Hero Kids Adventure 
  This adventure requires a copy of the Hero Kids RPG to 
  play.  The core game and this adventure include: 
  • Hero Cards for each player  
  • Monster Cards for the unique monsters in this 
  adventure (minotaur) and the standard Hero Kids 
  monsters (bats, skeletons, rats, snakes) 
  • Print-outs of all of the cavern tiles 
  • Stand-up minis for 
  the heroes and monsters 
  (minotaur, rats, bats, snakes, skeletons) 
  Additionally, these extra materials are required: 
  • Six-sided dice (d6s) 
  • Pencil and eraser 
  Background 
  You all live in the same village, Rivenshore, which is 
  nestled in a tight valley beneath a towering mountain.  A 
  river runs past the village and flows into a small bay. 
  Rivenshore would be a beautiful place to live, if it weren’t 
  beset by an endless series of calamities. 
  Adventure Overview 
  This adventure takes place in a randomly generated maze 
  that is the home of a fierce and dangerous monster; the 
  minotaur.  As they explore, the heroes run into one of a 
  number of random encounters; for good or for ill. 
  The heroes’ goal is to steal a piece of treasure from the 
  minotaur’s trove and then escape alive! 
  Adventure Intro 
  Today’s trouble starts close to the entrance of the 
  minotaur’s lair, a devious labyrinth crawling with 
  monsters, tricks, and traps. 
  You stand at the base of a steep hillside. 
  The hill is barren, with no trees able to take root in the 
  loose shale.  Further up the hill you see a dark cave mouth 
  that yawns ominously. 
  Your trainer points to the cave entrance. 
  “That is the lair of the minotaur, a fierce creature half of 
  human and half of beast.  Today you must prove 
  yourselves worthy by exploring the minotaur’s labyrinth, 
  finding his secret chest, taking a piece of the treasure, and 
  then making it back out to prove your bravery.” 
  Then he warns you. 
  “The beast is much stronger than you, so don’t be afraid to 
  run away from him if you have to.” 
  With your trainer’s warning still fresh in your ears, you 
  scramble up the hill to the cave mouth.   
  You pause until your eyes adjust and you can make out 
  the close walls of the tunnel.  With just a few steps, you 
  enter the cave and begin your search.   
  The cave continues into the darkness, and then the tunnels 
  split, heading to the left and right. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Maze of the Minotaur 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 3 
  Instructions 
  Prepare the Tiles 
  Before you play this adventure, it helps if you print out 
  the included cavern tiles and trim them down so that 
  their edges match up (roughly) when placed next to each 
  other.  Through the course of the game the players’ 
  exploration creates a large random maze. 
  Shuffle the Tiles 
  Once you’ve trimmed all of the tiles, pull out the two 
  starting tiles (the north-south tunnel and a t-
  intersection) and then shuffle the rest together to mix 
  them all up.  Make sure you shuffle them well so you 
  don’t end up drawing a succession of similar tiles. 
  Starting Tiles 
  This adventure usually starts with the same two tiles: a 
  straight tunnel and then a t-intersection.  You can change 
  these as you like, just make sure you give yourself enough 
  space to expand the maze. 
  ? 
   
  ? 
   
   
   
  Entering a New Tile 
  Each time the heroes enter a new tile, you should choose 
  the top tile from the pile of face-down tiles.  Take this tile 
  and place it down so that it joins up with the tile that the 
  heroes have come from.  
  If it doesn’t fit, simply put it at the bottom of the pile 
  and draw another.  If it does fit, place it down as the next 
  section of the labyrinth.   
  Don’t forget you can rotate the tiles 180 degrees to get 
  them to match or to give yourself more options, as 
  shown here with the dead end tiles: 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Avoid rotating the tiles 90 degrees, because they won’t fit 
  together or match up properly. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Maze of the Minotaur 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 4 
  Impossible Situations 
  Obviously you’ll want to avoid situations where the new 
  tile causes an impossible layout (such as a tunnel that 
  doesn’t join up properly with an existing tile). 
  So try not to do this: 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Rolling for Encounters 
  Each time the heroes enter a new tile, roll 3d6 (three six-
  sided dice) and add up the results.  Consult the 
  Encounter List on page 5 to see what happens. 
  Probabilities 
  The encounters with the highest and lowest numbers are 
  the least likely to occur, while those in the middle are 
  more likely to happen for each new tile. 
  Defeating the Minotaur 
  If the heroes manage (somehow) to defeat the minotaur 
  during this adventure, simply ignore further minotaur 
  encounters that get rolled up when entering new tiles (or 
  returning to a tile). 
  When to Reveal the Minotaur’s Lair 
  Given the random nature of the encounters in this 
  adventure, including the discovery of the minotaur’s lair 
  (which is the heroes’ goal), there are situations where you 
  may randomly roll the discovery of the lair very early or 
  too late in the game. 
  If the lair is discovered too early, just ignore the roll (or 
  roll again) and let the players continue exploring.  If the 
  lair hasn’t been discovered before 10 or so tiles, then feel 
  free bring it out. 
  Escaping the Labyrinth 
  Once the heroes have discovered the minotaur’s lair and 
  snatched a piece of treasure, they still have to make it out 
  of the labyrinth alive, so they’ll likely have a few combats 
  on the way out too. 
  Returning to a Tile 
  When heroes return to a tile they’ve already explored you 
  can have them find it empty or roll an encounter and 
  ignore any roll of 9 or less (this just gives random combat 
  encounters, including the minotaur itself). 
  Making It Up 
  Any time you get a roll that you don’t like or doesn’t 
  make sense, feel free to ignore it, reroll it, choose another 
  encounter, or even craft your own encounter. 
  For example, if the heroes have just sighted the minotaur 
  and choose to follow it, then you should ensure that the 
  minotaur is on the next tile. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Maze of the Minotaur 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 5 
  Encounter List 
  Roll 3d6 each time the heroes enter a new tile to see what 
  encounter it contains: 
  3d6 Roll 
  Encounter 
  Probability 
  3 
  3: Cave-In Trap 
  1% 
  4 
  4: Fallen Adventurers 
  2% 
  5 
  5: Pit Trap 
  3% 
  6 
  6: Magical Stream 
  5% 
  7 
  7: Minotaur Sighting 
  7% 
  8 
  8: Healing Fungi 
  10% 
  9 
  9: Empty 
  11% 
  10 
  10: Minotaur 
  12% 
  11 
  11: Giant Rats 
  12% 
  12 
  12: Vampire Bats 
  11% 
  13 
  13: Giant Snakes 
  10% 
  14 
  14: Skeletons 
  7% 
  15+ 
  15: Minotaur’s Lair 
  12% 
  Encounter 3: Cave-In Trap 
  This map tile contains a trap (a rope stretched between 
  two cavern walls that triggers a rockfall) that the 
  minotaur has set.  Here’s how it works: 
  • Choose an appropriate location for the trap 
  • Read out the description of the cavern 
  • Give the heroes a chance to notice the trap 
  • If they notice the trap, let them disarm or avoid it 
  • If they don’t notice the trap, and then try to move past 
  it, trigger the trap and have them all try to avoid its 
  effects 
  This cavern is dark, with just a few small pools of light 
  from glowing mushrooms and luminous crystals. 
  To notice the trap, have the players roll an Intelligence 
  test (Perception) at difficulty 6 for each hero. 
  If they succeed, tell them about the trap and allow them 
  to disarm or avoid the trap: 
  You see a thin rope stretched across the cave, which leads 
  up to the ceiling an attached to a precarious pile of 
  boulders – It’s a trap! 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Maze of the Minotaur 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 6 
  Then let them disarm or avoid the trap: 
  You pin the rope in place then cut it to disable the trap. 
  You carefully step over the rope and push on. 
  If no one notices the trap (by succeeding the previous 
  ability test), then don’t mention the trap and let them 
  continue, with this bit of misdirection: 
  You hear the faint sound of movement in the distance. 
  If they choose to continue and cross the path of the 
  trap’s trigger rope, then they trigger the trap: 
  As you step carefully through the darkened cavern, your 
  foot catches on something.  A moment later you hear a 
  twang and a terrible rumble as a cascade of heavy boulders 
  rain tumble down towards you from a hidden ledge in the 
  roof of the cavern. 
  To avoid the boulders, have the players roll a Dexterity 
  test (Perception) at difficulty 6 for each hero. 
  If a hero succeeds the test, then that hero has successfully 
  avoided the trap.   
  If a hero fails the ability test, then they have been 
  damaged by the trap.  Roll a d6 to work out the damage 
  from the trap.   
  • If they roll a 1 or 2, they take 1 damage. 
  • If they roll a 3 or 4, they take 2 damage. 
  • If they roll a 5 or 6, they take 3 damage. 
  Encounter 4: Fallen Adventurers 
  Lying against the cavern walls you see the skeletal remains 
  of several brave fools, their swords and bows still clutched 
  uselessly in their bony hands. 
  If the players choose to have their heroes search the 
  skeleton, read this: 
  You carefully search through the adventurers’ clothes and 
  equipment.  Your hand closes around something that 
  wasn’t broken in their run-in with the minotaur; an intact 
  healing potion. 
  Grant one or more of the heroes an extra healing potion. 
   
   
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Maze of the Minotaur 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 7 
  Encounter 5: Pit Trap 
  This map tile contains another trap (a covered pit trap in 
  the middle of the ground) that the minotaur has set.  
  Here’s how it works: 
  • Choose an appropriate location for the pit trap 
  • Read out the description of the cavern 
  • Give the heroes a chance to notice the trap 
  • If they notice the trap, let them avoid it 
  • If they don’t notice the trap, and then try to move past 
  it, trigger the trap and have them all try to avoid its 
  effects 
  The floor of this cavern is strewn with dirt and rocks. 
  To notice the trap, have the players roll an Intelligence 
  test (Perception) at difficulty 5 for each hero. 
  If they succeed, tell them about the trap and allow them 
  to disarm or avoid the trap: 
  You notice a slight outline in the dirt of the floor: It’s a pit 
  trap! 
  Then let them trigger the trap and then avoid it: 
  You poke the trap door with your weapon.  It swings open 
  to reveal a deep pit, the bottom of which is filled with 
  sharp sticks and rocks. 
  If no one notices the trap (by succeeding the previous 
  ability test), then don’t mention the trap and let them 
  continue, maybe with this bit of misdirection: 
  You hear the faint sound of movement in the distance. 
  If they choose to continue and cross the path of the pit 
  trap, then they trigger the trap: 
  As you step forward the floor beneath your feet begins to 
  collapse. 
  To avoid falling into the pit, have the players roll a 
  Dexterity test (Acrobatics) or Strength test (Athletics) at 
  difficulty 5 for each hero. 
  If a hero succeeds the test, then that hero has successfully 
  avoided the trap.   
  With lightning reflexes you manage to jump aside and 
  avoid falling into the pit. 
  If a hero fails the ability test, then they have been 
  damaged by the trap.  Roll a d6 to work out the damage 
  from the trap.   
  • If they roll a 1 or 2, they take 1 damage. 
  • If they roll a 3 or 4, they take 2 damage. 
  • If they roll a 5 or 6, they take 3 damage. 
  You slip sideways and tumble through the air for a 
  moment before crashing to the floor of the pit trap. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Maze of the Minotaur 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 8 
  Encounter 6: Magical Stream 
  This cavern is lit by a soft glow that is different from the 
  others. 
  As you come closer, you see that the light is coming from a 
  trickle of water that runs down the walls and collects in a 
  shallow pool. 
  If the players investigate the stream and the pool: 
  The soft light radiates from the water.  You take a sip and 
  feel refreshed. 
  The heroes can refill any empty healing potion bottles 
  from this pool of water.  Taking from the pool depletes 
  it, so the heroes can only refill their potions once during 
  the adventure. 
  Encounter 7: Minotaur Sighting 
  Only use this encounter if the minotaur is still alive: 
  As you enter this cave you catch a glimpse of the 
  minotaur’s shadow against the wall.  You hear him snort 
  and growl as he wanders off deeper into his labyrinth. 
  The players may choose to follow the minotaur or to 
  even try to set up an ambush for the beast. 
  Encounter 8: Pungent Fungi 
  WARNING! USE THIS ENCOUNTER TO TEACH 
  YOUR KIDS ABOUT NOT EATING FUNGI! 
  Entering this cave you are immediately overcome by a vile 
  stench.  You find the source of the smell, a small field of 
  stinky fungus. 
  The players can roll an Intelligence test (Knowledge) at 
  difficulty 5 for each of the heroes. 
  If any hero passes the test, then they find some beneficial 
  fungi: 
  You know that many types of mushrooms and fungus can 
  be poisonous, and even kill you, so you should never eat a 
  mushroom you haven’t identified. 
  But among the fungi you find some warrior’s cap 
  mushrooms, which are highly sought-after by warriors 
  heading into battle. 
  If they taste the fungi, read this: 
  Although the fungi tastes disgusting, you manage to eat it.  
  Within moments you feel incredibly strong! 
  Each hero that eats fungi gains an extra dice to all attacks 
  for their next combat encounter.   
  The fungi are gone once eaten, so this can only be used 
  once in the adventure. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Maze of the Minotaur 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 9 
  Encounter 9: Empty 
  Use these descriptions for the empty caverns: 
  Water drips from the ceiling of these caves and pools on 
  the uneven floor. 
   
  The walls here are scored with deep gashes from an 
  oversized weapon and strewn on the floor are torn and 
  broken pieces of equipment. 
   
  This cavern is dark, with just a few small pools of light 
  from glowing mushrooms and luminous crystals. 
   
  The floor of this cavern is covered with dirt and small 
  rocks. 
   
  All kinds of footprints crisscross the sandy floor of this 
  cavern. 
   
  As you enter this cavern you are startled as a flock of small 
  bats flutter down from the ceiling and fly away down the 
  dark tunnels. 
   
  The floor of this cave is covered with the bones of tiny 
  animals; probably rats and squirrels.  They crunch noisily 
  under your feet as you continue on your way. 
   
  This filthy cave appears to be used as a toilet.  Yuck! 
   
  The walls of this cave are covered with multi-colored 
  fungi and luminous moss. 
   
  Encounter 10: Minotaur 
  The minotaur encounter can happen in any cave tile early 
  or late in the adventure, so adjust as needed. 
  You round a corner and find yourself face to face with the 
  terrible minotaur.  His stinky breath shoots from his 
  nostrils as hefts his huge axe in his hands. 
  Use this if the heroes haven’t discovered his lair: 
  He bellows furiously at you for invading his labyrinth and 
  charges! 
  Or this if the heroes already have discovered his lair: 
  He sees the treasure you’ve taken from his trove, bellows 
  furiously and charges! 
  Don’t forget, the heroes can run from the minotaur. 
  Monsters 
  This encounter features the minotaur.  
  Use these health boxes to mark off damage: 
  Minotaur 
   
  Conclusion 
  If the heroes defeat the minotaur, read this: 
  The mighty minotaur lets out a primal roar then crashes 
  unconscious to the ground, his axe clatters down to the 
  stone next to him.  You quickly realize that the labyrinth is 
  still crawling with monsters. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Maze of the Minotaur 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 10 
  Encounter 11: Giant Rats 
  The skittering of tiny feet echoes through the caves and 
  after a few moments you see a seething mass of rats. 
  Monsters 
  1 Hero: 
  2 x Giant Rats  
   
   
  2 Heroes: 3 x Giant Rats 
   
   
   
  3 Heroes: 5 x Giant Rats 
   
   
   
   
   
  4 Heroes: 6 x Giant Rats 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Giant Rat 
   
   Giant Rat 
   
   Giant Rat 
   
   Giant Rat 
   
   Giant Rat 
   
   Giant Rat 
   
  Conclusion 
  Once all of the monsters are KO’d allow the players to 
  rest and remove damage from their heroes. 
  Encounter 12: Bats 
  As you enter this room the entire roof bursts into 
  movement as a whole flock of bats screech into the air.  
  Most fly away, but some home in on you thirstily. 
  Monsters 
  1 Hero: 
  2 x Bats  
   
   
  2 Heroes: 
  3 x Bats 
   
   
   
  3 Heroes: 
  4 x Bats 
   
   
   
   
  4 Heroes: 
  5 x Bats 
   
   
   
   
   
   Bat 
   
   Bat 
   
   Bat 
   
   Bat 
   
   Bat 
   
  Conclusion 
  Once all of the monsters are KO’d allow the players to 
  rest and remove damage from their heroes. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Maze of the Minotaur 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 11 
  Encounter 13: Giant Snakes 
  The walls of this cave are punched with a myriad of dark 
  holes.  As you look into one of the holes you hear a hissing 
  sound and a giant snake slithers out of the hole towards 
  you, poison dripping from its needle-sharp fangs! 
  Monsters 
  1 Hero: 
  1 x Giant Snake 
   
  2 Heroes: 
  2 x Giant Snakes 
   
   
  3 Heroes: 
  3 x Giant Snakes 
   
   
   
  4 Heroes: 
  4 x Giant Snakes 
   
   
   
   
   Giant Snake 
   
   Giant Snake 
   
   Giant Snake 
   
   Giant Snake 
   
  Conclusion 
  Once all of the monsters are KO’d allow the players to 
  rest and remove damage from their heroes. 
  Encounter 14: Skeletons 
  Lying against one of the cavern walls you see the skeletal 
  remains of several brave fools, their swords and axes still 
  clutched uselessly in their bony hands.   
  As you approach, some arcane force drives them to life! 
  Monsters 
  1 Hero: 
  1 x Skeleton Swordsman 
   
  2 Heroes: 1 x Skeleton Swordsman 
  1 x Skeleton Archer 
   
   
  3 Heroes: 2 x Skeleton Swordsmen 
  1 x Skeleton Archer 
   
   
    
  4 Heroes: 2 x Skeleton Swordsmen 
  2 x Skeleton Archers 
   
   
   
   
   Skeleton Swordsman 
   
   Skeleton Archer 
   
   Skeleton Swordsman 
   
   Skeleton Archer 
   
  Conclusion 
  Once all of the monsters are KO’d allow the players to 
  rest and remove damage from their heroes. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Maze of the Minotaur 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 12 
  Encounter 15: Minotaur’s Lair 
  You enter this cave and stop immediately as your feet 
  crunch onto hundreds of bones that line its floor.  Looking 
  around, you see that the entire place is covered with bones, 
  small and large. 
  You realize that this must be the minotaur’s lair! 
  You can automatically let the heroes search the room and 
  find the minotaur’s treasure or you can challenge them to 
  find it with an ability test. 
  Ability Tests 
  The players can have their heroes perform an Intelligence 
  test (Perception) at difficulty 4 to find the minotaur’s 
  treasure. 
  You quickly search the room, wary of a monster 
  discovering you. 
  Finally, under a pile of bones and skulls you find a 
  battered chest.  You push back the lid of the chest and see 
  within it piles of golden chalices, chains, rings, and 
  crowns. 
  A noise from elsewhere in the labyrinth startles you, so you 
  grab a piece of the minotaur’s treasure, shut the chest and 
  leave the minotaur’s lair to escape. 
  Encourage the players to leave the tile and make their 
  way back to the entrance. 
  Conclusion 
  You emerge from the dark of the minotaur’s maze into the 
  light and stumble down the steep cliff to reach your 
  trainer.  You show him the treasure that you’ve snatched 
  from the creature. 
  “Well done!  You’ve proven your strength and bravery in 
  the maze of the minotaur.  You are truly hero kids and 
  you’re ready for your next adventures.” 
   
   
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Hero Kids/Adventures/Hard Adventures/Hero Kids - Maze of the Minotaur-20200225.pdf