The fourth module set in Arneson’s Blackmoor setting (the oldest D&D setting all the way back when Arneson and Gygax conceived of the game itself) is not written by Arneson but by David Ritchie. Ritchie had collaborated with Arneson for D1-3, but now he takes over the DA series. It will be a short takeover as this is the last of the DA modules. In fact, by this time, the notoriously litigious Arneson was on the outs with TSR and this would be Ritchie’s last book for the company as well. 

TSR, having let go of many of the old school gamers that developed the game, most notably Gary Gygax himself, was looking to rebrand and relaunch as can be seen from the increasing interest in novel publishing as well as concentrating efforts on big properties such as Dragonlance or the new setting of The Forgotten Realms which had all the bells and whistles. Old settings from people who were put aside from the company, such as Arneson’s Blackmoor or Gygax’s Greyhawk, which TSR couldn’t completely control the rights to, were suddenly old hat. 

Set some 3,000 years before other adventures in the BECMI setting this adventure explores the Duchy of Ten (not to be confused with Greyhawk’s Duchy of Tenh) and much of it takes place in a boat at sea as the party looks for the Well of Souls, there are some interesting sea chase mechanics which make the adventure more unique.