Dreaded Island
A Fantasy Role-Playing Game Wilderness Adventures Module For Characters level 4 to 6
Copyright 2011 J.D. Neal All Rights Reserved
Visit a lost island of titanic monsters and ancient ruins in search of treasures and mystery. Seeking further adventures to task their skills, the player characters hear of a lost island far out of the shipping lanes. Now is the moment to separate the heroes from the cowards.
Source File: Dreaded Island Module 2011 01 31.odt
Part I : INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE when the PCs run for their life, or quickly decimate a foe. The The Drea Dreade ded d Isla Island nd was was desi design gned ed to be compat compatibl ible e with with early early versio versions ns of Dung Dungeo eons ns & Drag Dragon ons s such such as the the 1981 1981 Basi Basic c and and Expe Expert rt Rules, Mentzer edited rules, Rules Cyclopedia and so on. The emphasis is on adventure, though, not rules, so conversion to other rules sets should be easy. Almost all versions of the rules have some esot esoter eric ic diff differ eren ence ces; s; fini finick cky y DMs DMs will will do fact fact checking by rote. As a note: Dungeons & Dragons is currently trademarked and copyrighted by Wizards of the Coast. For Younger Younger Gamers Gamers:: This is not a set of rule rules, s, thes these e are are idea ideas s for for the the DM to use. use. The The author assumes the DM will print a copy out, take a big black black marke marker, r, and and chan change ge anyth anything ing and and everything they want to. The monsters and magic items in this module are what is going on at the Dreaded Islands, not everyw everywhe here re else else in the game game world. world. If you you see certain creatures or items defined in different different ways elsewhere (and prefer those other definitions), use them! Rights: This is NOT an "open game project" that others can freely copy and use as they please. It is under the copyright of the author, who is not surrendering any rights. Nor does the author not claim any rights towards Dungeons & Dragons or any elemen elementt therei therein; n; if he has has steppe stepped d on the the rights of the owner of that product, he will change this as needed. The purpose of this is to help support gaming as a who whole. le. The author is will willin ing g to allo llow individuals to distribute copies provided they (a) do not claim any sort of ownership, (b) do not charge mone money y for for it (inc (inclu ludi ding ng offe offeri ring ng it as a "fre "free" e" component in a packaged deal), (c) do not alter it in any way, and (d) understand he is not giving away any of his rights to ownership.
The thunk of the oars in the oar-locks mixed with with the the rushin rushing g of cold cold ocean ocean waves waves brea breakin king g onto onto the the shor shores es hidd hidden en in the the fogg foggy y mist mists. s. Some Someth thin ing g grun grunte ted d in the the dist distan ance ce and and bird birds s erupted in a nerve-wracking nerve-wracking burst of melodic calls. The The capta captain in straig straight hten ened ed up in the the back back of the the skiff, his hand going tight on the rudder handle. Looming out of the gray veil of fog was a fringe of lush green palm trees. They flanked a huge stone skull set with fangs and a single empty glaring eye in the center of the forehead...
Using This Module If you are a player do not read this module . Doing so only spoils the fun of not knowing what is going on. The DM should read it thoroughly. There is a theme going on which the DM will only get a handle on if they read the module. This was started as a project to build up my own materia materials ls for gaming. gaming. IT HAS HAS NOT NOT BEEN BEEN THOROUGHLY PLAY TESTED NOR ANALYZED. I'm more interested in the ideas than the the exacti exacting ng deta details ils.. It still still needs needs work, work, but the current current version is at least least semi-co semi-comple mplete. te. It will have have spel spelli ling ng and and gram gramma marr erro errors rs,, and and flaw flaws s caused by sloppy editing when I change my mind about something. To help with future expansion, some room numbers are not defined and others may be used in places where a sub-note might work better. The font used is larger than what many people use; I have poor eyesight and need a large font to be able to work with it. A smaller font could easily reduce the page count by 20 percent or so. This This is a wilde wilderne rness ss setti setting ng,, giving giving the the DM materials to use either on the island or elsewhere. It is aimed at gamers who enjoy exploration and DMs who need ideas. This is intended for 4th level player characters or so. The author assumes the players are clever, will have about 6 to 8 characters, and will gather allies as needed during adventures. Small parties of charac characte ters rs being being run by playe players rs who who aren't aren't clev clever er may requ requir ire e dras drasti tic c chan change ges s to the the enco encoun unte ters rs.. Like Likew wise, ise, brill rillia iant nt play player ers s with with powerful PCs might be bored. As well, my idea of a good adventure is one that offers different opportunities. The DM takes what is given and uses it as they wish. Nothing is bala balanc nced ed nor nor twea tweake ked d to be "win "winna nabl ble" e" or "perf "perfec ect." t." Some Sometim times es the the funne funnest st adven adventu ture re is
Contents This module includes the DM and players map for the island and several ready made adventures. adventures. A sheet of random lairs is included for the DM who wants to whip up a quick encounter and needs a quick lair or two. The DM can quickly create even more by adding their own tweaks to those given or drawing out their own lairs. Monster Monster Stats Stats: Stati Statisti stics cs for for monst monsters ers are are
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Part I : INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE when the PCs run for their life, or quickly decimate a foe. The The Drea Dreade ded d Isla Island nd was was desi design gned ed to be compat compatibl ible e with with early early versio versions ns of Dung Dungeo eons ns & Drag Dragon ons s such such as the the 1981 1981 Basi Basic c and and Expe Expert rt Rules, Mentzer edited rules, Rules Cyclopedia and so on. The emphasis is on adventure, though, not rules, so conversion to other rules sets should be easy. Almost all versions of the rules have some esot esoter eric ic diff differ eren ence ces; s; fini finick cky y DMs DMs will will do fact fact checking by rote. As a note: Dungeons & Dragons is currently trademarked and copyrighted by Wizards of the Coast. For Younger Younger Gamers Gamers:: This is not a set of rule rules, s, thes these e are are idea ideas s for for the the DM to use. use. The The author assumes the DM will print a copy out, take a big black black marke marker, r, and and chan change ge anyth anything ing and and everything they want to. The monsters and magic items in this module are what is going on at the Dreaded Islands, not everyw everywhe here re else else in the game game world. world. If you you see certain creatures or items defined in different different ways elsewhere (and prefer those other definitions), use them! Rights: This is NOT an "open game project" that others can freely copy and use as they please. It is under the copyright of the author, who is not surrendering any rights. Nor does the author not claim any rights towards Dungeons & Dragons or any elemen elementt therei therein; n; if he has has steppe stepped d on the the rights of the owner of that product, he will change this as needed. The purpose of this is to help support gaming as a who whole. le. The author is will willin ing g to allo llow individuals to distribute copies provided they (a) do not claim any sort of ownership, (b) do not charge mone money y for for it (inc (inclu ludi ding ng offe offeri ring ng it as a "fre "free" e" component in a packaged deal), (c) do not alter it in any way, and (d) understand he is not giving away any of his rights to ownership.
The thunk of the oars in the oar-locks mixed with with the the rushin rushing g of cold cold ocean ocean waves waves brea breakin king g onto onto the the shor shores es hidd hidden en in the the fogg foggy y mist mists. s. Some Someth thin ing g grun grunte ted d in the the dist distan ance ce and and bird birds s erupted in a nerve-wracking nerve-wracking burst of melodic calls. The The capta captain in straig straight hten ened ed up in the the back back of the the skiff, his hand going tight on the rudder handle. Looming out of the gray veil of fog was a fringe of lush green palm trees. They flanked a huge stone skull set with fangs and a single empty glaring eye in the center of the forehead...
Using This Module If you are a player do not read this module . Doing so only spoils the fun of not knowing what is going on. The DM should read it thoroughly. There is a theme going on which the DM will only get a handle on if they read the module. This was started as a project to build up my own materia materials ls for gaming. gaming. IT HAS HAS NOT NOT BEEN BEEN THOROUGHLY PLAY TESTED NOR ANALYZED. I'm more interested in the ideas than the the exacti exacting ng deta details ils.. It still still needs needs work, work, but the current current version is at least least semi-co semi-comple mplete. te. It will have have spel spelli ling ng and and gram gramma marr erro errors rs,, and and flaw flaws s caused by sloppy editing when I change my mind about something. To help with future expansion, some room numbers are not defined and others may be used in places where a sub-note might work better. The font used is larger than what many people use; I have poor eyesight and need a large font to be able to work with it. A smaller font could easily reduce the page count by 20 percent or so. This This is a wilde wilderne rness ss setti setting ng,, giving giving the the DM materials to use either on the island or elsewhere. It is aimed at gamers who enjoy exploration and DMs who need ideas. This is intended for 4th level player characters or so. The author assumes the players are clever, will have about 6 to 8 characters, and will gather allies as needed during adventures. Small parties of charac characte ters rs being being run by playe players rs who who aren't aren't clev clever er may requ requir ire e dras drasti tic c chan change ges s to the the enco encoun unte ters rs.. Like Likew wise, ise, brill rillia iant nt play player ers s with with powerful PCs might be bored. As well, my idea of a good adventure is one that offers different opportunities. The DM takes what is given and uses it as they wish. Nothing is bala balanc nced ed nor nor twea tweake ked d to be "win "winna nabl ble" e" or "perf "perfec ect." t." Some Sometim times es the the funne funnest st adven adventu ture re is
Contents This module includes the DM and players map for the island and several ready made adventures. adventures. A sheet of random lairs is included for the DM who wants to whip up a quick encounter and needs a quick lair or two. The DM can quickly create even more by adding their own tweaks to those given or drawing out their own lairs. Monster Monster Stats Stats: Stati Statisti stics cs for for monst monsters ers are are
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usua usuall lly y prov provid ided ed in an abbr abbrev evia iate ted d bloc block k as follows:
D = damage Mv = movement S = save as. C = cleric, D = dwarf, E = elf, F = Fighter, H = halfling, M = magic user, T = thief Ml = moral Al = alignment. C = chaotic, L = lawful, N = neutral ability scores: S = strength, I = intelligence, W = wisdo wisdom, m, D = dexte dexterit rity, y, C = const constitu itutio tion, n, C = charisma
(number encountered) [name] (AC , HD or Level, hp, #A , TH0, D , Mv , S , Ml , AL , special characters then have ability scores Str, Int, Wis, Dex, Con, Cha) (number encountered) = as is [name] = as is AC = armor class: 9 = unarmored, unarmored, 7 = leather, etc. HD = hit die or Level = character level and class C = cleric, D = dwarf, E = elf, F = Fighter, H = halfling, M = magic user, T = thief hp = hit points #A = Number of attacks TH0 = number needed to hit armor class 0; subtr subtrac actt a victim victim's 's armo armorr class class from from this this to get what they need when rolling a d20
Common Abbreviations: Abbreviations: DM = Dungeon Master c.p. = copper pieces e.p. = electrum pieces g.p. = gold pieces p.p. = platinum pieces s.p. = silver pieces
The Adventure repairable.
Setting Sail The player characters will need a way to travel to the islands. islands. The module module assumes assumes they have thei theirr own own sail sailin ing g ship ship,, acqu acquir ired ed by buyi buying ng it, it, capturing it from pirates, etc. Examples of other ways of getting there:
6) Pirates kidnap the PCs an take them to the tribal villages to be sold as slaves. They will be purchased and then set free.
1) Hiring on as crew aboard s ship going to the area, which will limit their choices.
While While getti getting ng ready ready for the the trip, trip, the the playe player r characters will hear or already be aware of one or more of these rumors. The more they try to find out information about the island, the more rumors they will find. To prevent a player from casually reading the list, none are marked true or false.
Rumors Before Setting Sail
2) Forming a partnership with a company that is seeking adventurers to outfit and investigate the region, in exchange for part of the treasures they receive.
1. A huge huge statu statue e of solid gold can be foun found d in some lost temple. 2. A dronin droning g bell bell sounds sounds the doom doom of all who who hear it. 3. Flying Flying lizardme lizardmen n inhab inhabit it the the jungles. jungles. 4. Gods Gods from from oute outerr space space have visited visited the the island. 5. A great great battle battle betwee between n wizards wizards decimat decimated ed part of the island, turning it into ruins. 6. Ancient Ancient peop peoples les once once inhab inhabited ited the islan island. d. 7. A canniba canniball society society is is thriving thriving in in the jungles, jungles, building ships in planning for an invasion of foreign lands for meat and slaves. 8. Turtles Turtles are intellige intelligent nt on on the the island island.. 9. Gigantic Gigantic lizards lizards roam certain certain areas. areas. 10. One eyed giants giants once roamed the the island.
3) Being cursed by a local (and very evil) noble to go to the island and bring back all the treasure they find. 4) The PCs are busy in an ordinary room in a local temple. Suddenly there is a flash of light and every everyon one e suffer suffers s a sever severe e bout bout of naus nausea ea and and disorientation. When they come out of it, they are sprawled on the beach near the tribal villages. 5) On a sailing trip on other business they are struck by a massive storm that drives the vessel far out into the ocean. It crashes onto the shore near near the the trib tribal al vill villag ages es.. It may may or may may not not be
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11. Beware the steam spewing dragons! 12. Trolls in a flying ship have been met at the island.
* Missing crewmen. * Theft of small items, which are found in the belongings of others (who claim to be innocent.) Crew morale is lowered.
The Trip Before setting sail (or during the trip or perhaps on the islands), a nondescript man in the crew or among the passengers will notice the party. Anyone who pays attention will notice that he is paying too much attention to what the PCs are doing. He will try to join them or follow them. This man's name is supposedly Kale Edwards (but is really Elkayle Denib) (AC 7 with dexterity bonus of 2, Level 5 Thief, hp 16, MV 120' (40'), #A 1 dagger, D 1-4, S T5, ML 8, Al C; S 12, I 16 (+2), W 14 (+1), D 17 (+2), C 11, C 15) is hiding two secrets under his clothing: he has a bronze amulet with a single eye on it and has runes dedicated to an evil god tattooed on his chest and back (always hidden under his clothing.) He carries a dagger (and has a bottle of poison hidden on his person, enough for 1 or 2 uses.) His job is to monitor possible threats to a cult on the island (the DM will have to read the module for more details) and attempt to hinder anyone who takes a serious interest in it. He does not know what the cult is doing there, where they are operating, or who is there: the cult works in cells, the members of which only know what their own specific job is. Only the high level leaders are privy to useful information. Various events that might occur include:
* Sudden death of a select crewman or two as if the ship is cursed, in such a way that it will hinder the expedition. * Crew falling sick from bad food and water, although all water and food in the ship's storage seems fine. If the party has control over the trip to the island, the DM can sprinkle it with interesting encounters, such as pirates, a series of odd island encounters, a dragon turtle that does not attack them but provides an interesting event and so on. The ship should be well provisioned with water and food. Remind the players if they have their own ship and need to stock it before leaving; it is easy for the players to forget everyday things because they play the game in their imagination, skipping boring details. Their characters have to eat and drink every day, and would make sure they have plenty of food and water for a long ocean voyage. They would turn around, go back to shore and get it the first day out. The intent is to have the party arrive near the native villages on Snakeline Island. They can of course sail elsewhere, but arriving at Snakeline Island will introduce them to a safe haven where they can gather supplies, find aide and enlist NPCs during any further expeditions.
* Missing maps of the island.
Gaming Advice The following advice is offered in vein of some of the author's favorite modules, which were intended to expand the gamers understanding of the game. It is offered for gamers who enjoy reading advice.
with traps and so on. This may involve some outdoor features, but not as a big part of play. A "wilderness" adventure is focused more on exploring and moving around a wilderness area. "Rooms" become set encounters, with perhaps sub-maps to explore in more detail. A good wilderness module helps gamers who enjoy travelling place to place, looking for adventures. This module includes a wilderness map to explore, sprinkled with some preset encounters in specific places (offering more depth than random encounters), and a couple of dungeon maps. One thing it should have but is missing are "wilderness" area maps to explore, such as a city or outdoor bandit camp. Likewise, terrain should be better used as a feature of exploration. The author ran
DUNGEONS VERSUS WILDERNESS: A module does not have to be either a "dungeon" module or a "wilderness" module. There can even be city based adventures or mysteries which feature neither dungeons or wildernesses. A "dungeon" adventure concentrates mainly on exploring a castle, underground network or some other dungeon-like situation where the player characters move room to room. They get into intimate details like taking down doors, dealing
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out of time on this version. IT IS NOT A PERFECT WILDERNESS ADVENTURE, just an example of one type.
MOVEMENT: When moving outdoors, character actions are pretty limited and the major deterrent is terrain, weather and other such factors. Mostly characters move place to place. Time is usually measured in days (sometimes hours), with minimal considerations for smaller time scales more detailed actions. If they want to explore something in depth, the DM has to drop down into a smaller time scale. Most rules offer adjustments for terrain. This module offers several examples of intended to help the DM understand how to go back and forth between different distance and time scales. This is intended to help them make up their own system, if they need one. The idea of calculating a cost per hex in miles of movement comes directly from the 1981 Expert's set. Most of the author's ideas on movement are gleaned from various rule books and some real world study; these are not new ideas. Dungeon movement is often different from wilderness movement. The major impediment is not the terrain (although it can have affect), but rather the nature of exploring a dungeon itself. The environment is often (but not always) composed of short, narrow, poorly lit corridors. As well, characters usually engage in more intimate activities like peeking around corners or listening for noises or stopping to discuss what to do or gathering in groups to whisper. Tediously measuring areas out is very time consuming. Trying to estimate how much time every action the PCs take can be daunting. The DM can do it if they wish, making a time chart in (for example) minutes and marking off so many minutes based on what PCs do. Or they can use a ten minute turn for indoors movement. This "turn" is intended to roll up most of the concerns for dungeon exploration in one ball: it accounts for tedious mapping, the poor environment and cautious PC actions (for example) as a sort of average. The idea is: the DM finds the movement rate of the party (usually 120, 90, 60 or 30 feet per turn, depending on encumbrance). They divide that by the scale of the map to find how many squares the party "maps and explores" per turn. As the PCs explore, the DM counts squares explored until a turn passes. When the PCs stop to do something more intimate, the DM can add more time. If the players find tedious exploration boring and would prefer to move through an area at a faster rate, the DM has to track time as best they can.
COST OF SPELL CASTING: This note is for DMs who do not have their own ideas about how much it will cost to have NPCs cast spells. Someone might withhold magic for special favors (or cast spells for free); the DM can handle those ideas on their own. This discussion is aimed at the case of someone demanding a monetary fee. The fee can vary by how common or rare the DM wants magic to be in their game world, as well as the drives of individual people within it. One cleric might charge more than another for a spell, for example. One option is to charge 100 g.p. per level of the caster. Some DMs might charge 1,000 g.p. (or 500) per level of the spell caster. The DM might decide certain spells are cheaper than others: 100 g.p. for a healing spell but 1,000 g.p. per level of the caster for a raise dead spell. Following are examples of two more schemes. The first is based on the minimum experience level needed to attain a spell (which can vary by rulebook: look it up in yours). In the example, cleric's gain 1st level spells at the 2nd level of experience, 2nd level spells at 4th level of experience, etc. Spell Level 1 2 3 4 5 6
Cleric Fee 200 400 600 600 700
Magic-user/Elf Fee 100 300 500 700 900 1100
Another idea is to square the spell level and round to a nice, easy number: Spell Level 1 2 3 4 5 6
Cleric Fee 100 500 1,000 1,500 2,500 3,500
Magic-user/Elf Fee 100 500 1,000 1,500 2,500 3,500
Of course: make up your own system as you wish, or use the one in the rules you have if it offers one.
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Consider a situation where two identical PCs hold a foot race: one is indoors and one is outdoors and all things said the general "terrain" is the same. If the environment does not hinder the PC who is "indoors", they will moving at the speed of the PC who is outdoors. If it does hinder the PC, the DM has to adjust as best they can. If the PCs enter an underground grotto that is basically a full-fledged wilderness area (and all they do is travel from point A to point B), then they move at wilderness speeds (i.e. full speeds) based on wilderness rules. One thing left out of many rules is a basic discussion of "How fast can the PCs move anyways?" The following table might help. Base Movement 30' 60' 90 120' 150' 180'
Miles per Day 6 12 18 24 30 36
Feet per Minute 60 120 180 240 300 360
conditions. Those ideas are mentioned to show the breadth of details you would have to get into if you pursued a varied movement system. This treatise is intended to for the DM who wants to make better judgments about speeds and time in play. Time is always an estimate and distances and speeds are never exacting. And usually only large chunks of time matter much (hours or days), unless something time critical is going on. The DM should always use whatever system is convenient for them. Their goal is to estimate the passage of time based on what PCs are doing in a way that is reasonable and fits their play style. Avoid bogging down in petty details, and get on with what the game is about - playing, not fiddly accounting.
Yards per Minute 20 40 60 80 100 120
Underwater Movement and Combat These notes are for DMs who need help in dealing with underwater adventuring. Always do your own research if you have time. What follows is not perfect, but will help novices get started. Heck: go find a swimming pool or some deep water and do some swimming if you want real, tangible facts to use! The density of water hinders movement - and combat itself is based on movement. Humans and most animals are not very buoyant; they cannot carry a heavy load before sinking. Most games do a poor job of this by relating it to body armor and ignoring everything else. Carrying treasure, weapons or anything will cause most people to sink like a rock. A rough estimate is they can carry 1/5 to 1/6 their normal encumbrance rating. Scuba divers carry weight belts because they do want to sink - and because buoyancy increases with depth (the water becomes denser and tries to force objects up with more pressure.) Swim fins help them maintain flotation near the surface, and can be tiring over time. Life guards use flotation devices, and count on the victim's minimal buoyancy as another aid. A struggling victim can drag them down by reducing the buoyancy of both. Humans on land can walk at around 3 miles per hour for long distances; run about 4 times as fast for 2 or 3 hours (as in a marathon) and sprint at about 6 times that speed for 30 to 40 seconds (3 to 4 rounds) before being forced back down to a run by the limits of muscle energy. Record holders can sprint 7 times as fast. Top speeds for swimming tends to be close to
The above table is based on straight math using a 3 mile per hour base movement rate. A human walking at 3 mph can cover 264 feet (88 yards) in one minute. The author changed this to 240 feet to make things easier. No speed or distance is ever exact, so being exacting is not necessary. As well, this allows a little flexibility in that someone with absolutely no encumbrance (loin cloth and dagger) might be given an extra 30 feet of movement, for example. A walking speed is a comfortable speed for travelling long distances without suffering excess exhaustion. It is not the MAXIMUM speed of movement. Humans can run at around 4 times their base speed (12 mph) for hours on end (marathons last 2 or more hours depending on the speeds of runners and distances, which can be 26 miles). They can sprint at 6 to 7 times the base speed for 30 to 40 seconds or so. Running and sprinting both inflict exhaustion. If you study the situation enough you find encumbrance is a major deterrent to maximum running speeds, and less of a deterrent to casual walking speeds. In a fight, a person would only "walk" somewhere if they were engaged in closecombat melee and needed to defend their self and move carefully back or to the side. They would run most other places at a faster speed (2 to 3 times normal or more) with little impediment beyond not being able to be as careful in poor lighting or bad
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normal walking speeds. A human can usually only hold their breath for 3 minutes or so (less for nonathletic types; more for those with a lot of training.) A free diver often cannot spend much time under water, so they often "sprint" at top speeds in bursts. Someone expecting to swim long distances would have to move at a much slower pace (perhaps 1/5 to 1/6 normal speed under water; about 1 mph using floating objects for buoyancy on the surface.) Fish and similar animals are designed to slice through the water. They often swim at normal human walking speeds (around 3 mph or so.) They often swim in much faster bursts. How much faster depends on athletic ability and power; some of the fastest can reach 50 to 70 mph but most can only achieve 20 to 30 mph and many are much slower. Archaic missile weapons (slings, bows, crossbows, and thrown weapons) are useless under water. The broad, long limbs of bows and crossbows prevent them from imparting much speed. Trying to sling or throw anything is futile.
Firearms are also useless beyond 6 to 9 feet. Speed is a deterrent; the faster anything moves underwater, the more it is prone to shatter. Spear guns give modern man a semi-useful underwater missile weapon that ancient man did not have: they propel relatively heavy spears at low velocity for ranges of 21 feet (7 yards) or less. They use elastic bands, compressed air, or explosive cartridges (often blank firearm cartridges). An example of the hazards involved: those with elastic bands are intended to be loaded only underwater. Military forces have created specialized underwater firearms to allow a higher rate of fire. They usually have ranges of 15 feet (5 yards) or less and use heavy spike-like projectiles. Underwater combat is mostly about grappling, biting, stabbing or thrusting a spear. Squid and octopi grapple; fish bite and swallow; even the cone snail uses a needle on a muscular appendage it spits for a short distance.
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Notes from the Log of A Pirate Captain: This rumor of a strange island is annoying me. The crew wants to explore and plunder great treasures. I'd rather hail down ships and rob 'em! We sailed east for endless days. Not a single ship to plunder. A storm struck but the Slippery Eel weathered it well. Bad fortune: the navigator was swept overboard while traveling from the deckhouse to galley. More bad luck. Bad food and bad water both. I turn us back, following the eastern stars. A terrible storm. Blown wildly for over a week. The doctor died in the night from a sudden fever. An island ahead! Fresh water and food. This new crewman. He seems suspicious. Lousy day. The new crewman was killed in a fight with that scoundrel One-Eye. OneEye claimed the new guy came at him with a dagger from behind. We all know one-eye. He wanted the guy's medallion. Friendly natives. Too smart. One-Eye was beat half to death slipping off a lady's gold necklace. Best leave fast. What is the fascination with snakes? Bigger island east. Bigger island, and what dragons! Little flying dragons that don't breath fire swarmed us. Welt on my pate after that! Some ruins on the coast. Crew is expressing concern for their democratic rights. I let seven go ashore on the jolly boat to look for loot. None return. Boat lost. Huge fish. What fish breathes air? Who were those people? Or what? Barely got away. Crew too small to do anything but sail east. Home to safety!
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Part II : The Islands Several islands make up the Dreaded Islands. Snakeline Island is inhabited by natives who have lived here for hundreds of years. The rest will have to be explored to discover what is there. The Broken Island and Dreaded Island are described in their own sections. The maps are intended to show general and significant details. They do not, for example, show every volcano or mountain, only some of the important ones.
necessarily that high, but are sharp faced, with rocky cliff faces that defy access. Climbing up or down each takes 1 or more days depending on encumbrance. Encumbrance 1/4 1/2 3/4 100%
1 day 2 days 3 days 4 days
Climbing requires slow, careful choice of path and footing. Horses and such cannot be ridden; doing so will cause them and the rider to tumble down a cliff face. Reefs. Reefs are usually only around a few of the smaller islands which were built up mainly by coral. Other areas will feature shallow coastal shelves, though usually little danger to ships unless they come too close. A ship will generally rip it's hull out if it tries to go through a reef. Rivers. Only a few of the significant rivers are shown (as solid dark lines); many exist as would small streams and creeks.
Movement On the Ocean Movement on the oceans will depend on the ship used and other details as spelled out in the rules being used. A few ideas to keep in mind are: The vessel will have to skirt the coast closely if the crew wants to view details on land. Movement along the coast at night means (a) the crew cannot see details and (b) they cannot detect underwater obstacles very well.
Features of the general area include: Coastline. Unless marked as a harbor or rough area, coast lines are usually bordered by beaches and can be landed on with little problems. They do not provide shelter from storms; only harbors will. Many smaller ships can be landed on a beach during high tide, propped up (if need be) and unloaded as desired, setting sail again when high tide returns.
Movement on the Islands The main island map uses a scale of 6 miles per hex. The DM can easily change this to 3 miles per hex to reduce the time spent in the area; or increase it to 9 or 12 miles per hex. The following table shows the cost of movement in miles per hex:
Glacier. There is one large glacier on the south island which would be handy for ice age adventures, frost giants, white dragons and such. Harbors. Any ocean hex surrounded by 4 or more land hexes should be considered a safe harbor. Those with only 3 are doubtful at best and those with 2 are not. Harbors protect ships against strong storms. Plateaus.
The
plateaus
shown
Terrain City, clear, grassland, trail Broken, desert, forest, hills Jungle, mountains, swamp
aren't
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Miles per hex 3 6 9 12 3 6 9 12 4.5 9 13.5 18 6 12 18 24
Road
2
4
6
8
Snakeline Island This is the main residence of the local native humans. These brown-skinned people are primitive but intelligent and pleasant, living in grass huts and log palisades, wielding spears and carrying large shields. They have limited black smithing and mining and welcome trade in metals. The villages might have a dozen or so silver-tipped arrows available and can make silver-tipped crossbow bolts and silver sling shot. They could make silver-headed axes, daggers, flails, hammers, maces and spears in about a week; a sword would take 3 or 4 weeks. (These times are due to their lack of resources and a shortage of time to devote to smithing.) They survive by hunting, farming crops on small plots, foraging for wild plants and fishing. The villages all ferment coconut milk and fruits to brew a strong drink for celebrations. They have a good deal of food, including dried sugary fruits eaten as candies and a form of bread baked from breadfruit-like plants. The villagers have collected some treasures over the course of hundreds of years of looting. They occasionally go exploring the island for a few days to a week and come back with a small number of coins and other artifacts from previous civilizations. There is very little in the way of treasures in the local area; PCs would have to search for days to find even small caches. The DM will have to add large treasures if they need them. These treasures have a theme in that many feature snakes: pottery will sometimes have lines of dancing snakes in odd postures (which is a strange ancient script) and some of the coins will feature snakes. Not everything is related to a snake, though. There are several villages. The demeanor of most is civility. There are some evil people about, but none of the leaders or governments are evil at this moment. Most villages are close to the shore but not on it. To avoid tides and high water during monsoons, the actual village proper is usually located up to a half mile back into the trees, on high ground if it is available. Random encounters on this island will be infrequent and usually feature fairly normal creatures. The locals have tamed it quiet a bit, though dangers still exist. Rumors that will be learned in the villages:
Consider characters who can travel 18 miles per day and using the map scale of 1 hex = 6 miles. Moving along a trail or through a grassy area would take 6 miles per hex - they could move 3 hexes. If they started at the beginning of a day in a grassy hex and moved into another, that costs 6 miles. If they then moved into jungle it would take 9 miles, which is 15 miles total of the 18 they can move per day. Keep in mind that being exacting is not important. If they moved another hex into jungle, that means they travelled 3 miles, camped, and then spent another 6 miles the next day. They would have 12 miles left for travelling the next day. Tracking movement can get twiddly. Consider allowing 2 or 3 days of movement at a time if PCs are only able to move 1 or 2 hexes at best in a day. Likewise, the intent is to estimate time used, not get it exactingly accurate.
Weather and Environment As designed, the islands are in a tropical region. This means they are lush with plants and wildlife of many types. Reptiles prosper as do insects. Three months of the year are greeted with monsoons and hurricanes every month or so. The other months tend to be milder, but it usually rains at least once a week, and thunder storms (not nearly as powerful as a hurricane) often hit once a month. There is usually one or two months of drought where little rain falls. Ground water is plentiful and usually sustains wildlife. During this time heat rises beyond the normal tropical levels to deadly levels for anyone who is too active. It never snows except on the high mountain tops. It does get cool if not cold at night. There is a high shelf of land on one island where a glacier has formed. Most foodstuffs will survive if kept dry. Preserved foods (smokes, dried, etc.) have little problem. Foodstuffs are common (fruits and wildlife) to make spoilage moot. Fresh water is everywhere except on the ocean. Diseases are more common due to the humidity: scratches can fester if not treated. Disease and parasite bearing insects constantly suck blood. Poisonous insects and reptiles thrive as do many spiny plants.
1 A cyclops civilization once inhabited the island.
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2 Beware the large walking birds in the south. 3 Cannibals are massing to invade distant foreign lands. 4 Don't tread lightly in the living woods. 5 Elves, dwarves and other demi-humans do not live in the area. And few humans. 6 Flying lizardmen inhabit remote regions. 7 Giant lizards of truly tremendous size inhabit some areas. 8 Head hunting pygmy's plague some areas. 9 Horse sized dogs have been seen, being ridden by dog-men. 10 Living winds dwell in broken lands. 11 Orcs have found the islands. 12 Mad wizards strive for power on the island. 13 Snake men live in the swamps and jungles. 14 Strange machines can be met on occasion. 15 The ringing of a great bell or gong leads to a lost temple. 16 Sea witches inhabit the area. 17 Monkeys and apes speak and behave like humans. 18 A great black pearl can be found in the oceans around the island. 19 Giant hopping rats have been seen on the island. 20 A volcano on the island holds a fire giant city.
members believe are ornamental; close scrutiny will reveal they are runes dedicated to a cult of evil. The shaman will monitor the party's progress. If they are successful in their adventures, he will be encountered later with a retinue of thugs and undead (under his control but not created by him), attempting to lure the party into his confidence so he can kill or capture them. Evil Cleric (AC 5 (hide armor = AC 7, dexterity 2 bonus of 2), Level 5 Cleric, hp 17, MV 90' (30'), TH0 17, #A 1 mace, D 1-6, S C5, ML 8, Al C, S 11, I 12, W, D 16, C 10, C 11 Spells (2, 2): 1st level - protection from good, darkness 2nd level - bless, striking 6 berserker thugs (AC 7, HD 1+1*, hp, 9, 6, 5, 5, 4, 3, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D 1-8 or weapon, S F1, ML See below, Al N) 5 fighters (AC 7, Level 1 Fighter, hp 7, 5, 4, 3, 3, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-8 or weapon, S F1, ML See below, Al N) 6 ghouls (AC 6, HD 2*, hp 12, 11, 8, 8, 7, 6, TH0 18, #At 1 claws / 1 bite, Dam 1-3/1-3/1-3, Mv 90' (30'), Sv F2, Ml 9, AL C)
The main villages are summarized below. Smaller villages and occasional lone families are scattered about.
9 skeletons (AC 7, HD 1, hp, 8, 7, 6, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 3, MV 60' (20'), TH0 19, #A 1, D 1-6 or weapon, S F1, ML 12, Al C)
V1. Village of Kasta. These people are taller than most humans but much the same otherwise. The men wear shaggy beards and frizzy hair. Women are split between those that prefer to shave themselves bald and those that dress their long hair in elaborate braids. Tattoos can be seen on either sex, although only the leaders have any sort of extensive coverage. Tere-Alok is the chief of the village, who rules with a half dozen sub-chiefs and advisers. Chiefs and sub-chiefs are chosen (and sometimes deposed) through democratic voting (or warfare). Mak-Alok is a witch doctor and can offer various services including curse removal. To remove a curse or perform any other sort of magic, he needs a suitable fee in gems or coins, which will be sacrificed to a volcano. The PCs will invariably encounter one of the shamans of the tribe in their later adventures (unless the DM fails to read this). He acts pretty ordinary, but also wears (amid his bone necklaces) a plain copper amulet featuring a cyclopean eye. He also has tattoos on his body which other tribe
There are quiet a few worthy fighters who will join the party. They must be given good terms (1/4 of a share of loot for example) and the party must be in good standing with the peoples. These people have smallish canoes and dugouts. If the party needs a vessel, they will have to contract the islanders to build a nice little sailing ship. The tribal council hut is decorated with the skull of a Tyrannosaurus rex, recovered by some adventurous islander many dozen years ago from the main land. A witch doctor sports a long flowing necklace of scores of peg-like teeth - sauropod teeth also brought from the mainland by some adventurer. V2. Village of Garuna. Inhabiting the edge of a swampy area, these people live in grass huts along the solid areas and huts on wooden poles around the swamps. They are flashy and friendly; on a bright sunny day they will greet visitors enthusiastically, resulting in a sparkling glint of sun
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off silver and gold jewelry. This wealth comes from various lost cities and ruins they have found in the area. Now and then they find another. These people enjoy nudity and ladies who are proud of being females flaunt it. The actual wealth they have is not as great as it seems and greedy PCs who attack are likely to be disappointed. They have little use for the treasures they find, so they make jewelry from it. There is a shrine devoted to a goddess and decorated with a number of common artifacts from some ancient civilization: colorful glass cups and bowls, silverware, elaborately decorated china plates and cups, and what looks like a fancy stick it is a wand of lightning with 3 charges left. If it is recognized by the PCs, the natives will gladly trade it for a worthwhile amount of metal items or services. One large alabaster bowl has gold inlay decorations which indicate a large lake in on a plateau on the northern end of the island. The shaman of the village can offer several potions to cure diseases (1d4) or neutralize poison (1d4), as well as spell casting, at a fee. These people indulge in brewing strong alcoholic drinks from the abundant supply of sugar cane they raise, mixed with fruits. They also have candies to offer.
language spell will reveal an incomplete but lengthy spiel about the "One Eyed Gods" and a war by the "Blessed" to win freedom from unjust slavery to "..those who tread on us...". The tone sounds sanctimonious. Sometimes the text chortles in delight at the idea of eating defeated enemies. There is mention of a temple that appears and disappears on a regular basis. V4. Imoda. A smaller village of huts and one main wooden long houses. There is little of note here. One of the inhabitants of this village is an intelligent chimpanzee. It is being kept as a pet by several villagers who do not know it can talk (rather they think it can mimic speech and it has not abused them of the idea, as yet.) It will size up the PCs and then as one passes it will start talking to them. This creature will try to ingratiate itself on the part. It was found and captured by a trader on a distant island when it was a young child. The locals found it's ability to mimic human speech amusing. As it grew up, it began to realize that talking monkeys were unheard of in the area, even though it has vague memories of gorillas, chimpanzees, and other such creatures being pretty much human. Since then it has maintained the persona of a parrot. If the PCs let it join their party, it will be an indolent companion that has to be goaded to action, but will travel with them in hopes of some day reaching its home lands. It has spent years spent sneaking about and hiding it's nature. It is a 4th level thief (AC 7 (+2 bonus for dexterity), Level 4 Thief, hp 14, MV 120' (40'), #A unarmed or by weapon +1 for strength, D 1-4, S T4, ML 8, Al N; S 15 (+1), I 12, W 11, D 16 (+2), C 11, C 9) , albeit it generally does not steal (beyond a habit of taking food when it is hungry) nor harm other creatures. Buying the monkey will take a bit of trade in metal items and decorative beads and such. Stealing it will be seen as very bad manners and the thieves will be accosted by angry villagers who intend to force them to be honest and pay for the "pet." The locals will not resort to fighting or killing for its sake.
V3. Village of Gali. Situated along a deep river ravine inland from the coast, this village uses heavy stone blocks for housing and walls. A large stone wall surrounds it. Of all the tribes, these are the ones with the most metal. They mine a large vein of iron ore and have several smelting pits and a good deal of coal and charcoal. The chiefs wield swords or axes, and warriors have steel-headed spears. Chiefs also have chain mail. They have several long ships as well as smaller sailing ships and boats. They will sell a ship for a dear price, or even build one under contract. A plain woman will watch the PCs but then brave herself and approach them. Her name is Lina-Lie. Months ago her husband went to the great islands to the east (Dreaded Islands) in search of copper. She hasn't heard from him since. She pushes a small ruby gem at them (250 g.p. value), begging them to keep a look for him and bring him back if they find him. There is a single monolith here about 6 feet high that is carved with snake-script: snakes and squiggly lines in various poses as it were. A read
V5. Village of Lik-Lik. This small village consists of huts on stilts. The inhabitants dance daily. When the PCs arrive they are throwing a wild party with the centerpiece being some short, stout fellow who seems to have just returned from some ordeal. The fellow is taking it all in good
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stride, but is bashful. All of a sudden his eyes roll up in his head and he begins to froth, collapsing to the ground twitching and writhing. In seconds his body mutates to become a four legged, hairy, snarling were-hyena (AC 5, HD 4*, hp 18, MV 180' (60), #A 1 bite, D 2-8, S F4, ML 8, Al C; for the sake of simplicity the author uses the same statistics as a werewolf rather than create any special statistics; it is immune to normal weapons and has the other properties of a werewolf, adjusted for the local conditions). Jumping up, the were-hyena lays into the crowd, pinning people down, biting several. From out of the nearby grass leaps four normal hyenas [wolf statistics] (AC 7, HD 2+2, hp 15, 12, 11, 9, MV 180' (60'), #A 1 bite, D 1-6, S F1, ML 8 (6), Al N) who join into the fray, attacking everyone they can. Frightened villagers flee everywhere, yelling and confused. It is up to the players to decide what to do. If the PCs join the fight, they will help prevent the were-hyena and it's cohort from killing anyone, though several people are injured. If they ruthlessly kill the were-hyena, it reverts back to human form. There will be a funeral; by not showing restraint (they could have grappled and captured it or netted it for example) the PCs have not made themselves any friends in the community.
Use the rules for lycanthropy in the rules to determine if a character mauled by the were-hyena becomes one. If the PCs were lenient in controlling the were-hyena, the tribe will gladly aide any stricken members in finding a venerable old shaman of high level who can help cure them of the disease. if not, they will have to work for it. Recently, the man was off on a trip looking around local ruins when he found a simple temple. Without thinking, he relieved himself in a convenient pool of water; a few moments later he was mauled by a hyena but survived. He was missing almost a month, lost and feverish, slowly healing. He had been cursed by the deity the shrine was dedicated to and as such turned into a were-hyena in punishment.
Floating Island This is an example of how a DM might expand the area with other details. This is not mapped and may not even exist (or may appear later). This is not marked on the player's map because it is something of a secret.This looks like an island from a distance, but close inspection reveals it is a massive floating structure of plants and trees. The creatures that exist in this environment will be alien, prone to life in the water or trees. Normal ground-borne life will be scarce if it even exists.
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Part III : The Broken Islands
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This is the beginning idea for an underwater adventure that the DM can expand on. It might lead to several underwater grottoes featuring aquatic beasts and environmental factors, for example. MOVEMENT: The scale of 2 miles per hex means this map was blown up to three times the original size. This changes the number of hexes that can be moved per day. A table to help beginners follows (the entries for 1, 3, and 4 miles per hex are there to help in case the DM changed the scale of the main map from 6 miles to 3, 9 or 12.)
Terrain City, clear, grassland, trail Broken, desert, forest, hills Jungle, mountains, swamp Road
are spun from the fibers of a type of seaweed that makes them waterproof.) On the necklace are a dozen small vial-like containers. If the PCs experiment with the vials (they can pull the top off each), the moment someone pulls a stopper out they will be shocked for 1d6 hit points damage (twice that if they fail a saving throw versus spells) and must also make a save or drop it. Six contain fluids and six contain powders of odd coloration and scent. Anyone who drinks or tastes of either must save versus poison or die; those who succeed will be violently ill for 1d6 x 10 minutes and must save again or be debilitated by paralysis and nausea for 1d6 hours. If freed and given fluids and food, she will look around like a fish, unable to believe what she is seeing. Her "legs" uncurl to reveal eight octopi tentacles instead of normal limbs. Nothing she says makes sense nor does she understand anything the PCs say. Taking the necklace (if allowed and no one has interfered) she unstoppers a vial. She shudders, eyes rolling up and passes. About 10 minutes later she will awaken and begin to ask questions in an oddly accented common language. NOTE: Even if the party has read languages spells and such she will eventually drink the potion in the vial to prevent broken communications caused by limited spells. Her tale is a pretty simple damsel-in-distress situation. Her name is:
Miles per hex 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1.5 3 4.5 6 2
4
2/3 1 1/3
6
8
2
1 2/3
This table shows the cost in miles of moving through a hex. For example (using the 2 miles per hex column): a PC party that can move 18 miles per day would loose 3 miles moving through a broken area, and 4 moving through a swamp area. When moving along a road for 3 hexes they would expend 4 miles of movement (1 1/3 x 3 = 4.) This set of broken islands is composed of small tree covered chunks of sharp rocks with rough sides an a few larger, flatter islands. They are not inhabited by local natives. The beach located at #1 is fairly flat and sandy. If the PCs enter and explore this seaside grotto, they find a trail they can follow through broken land until they come to a central temple. Sunlight slides down into chambers etched from volcanic stone. Inside is a fairly nice looking female human who is chained to the wall, slumped over and suffering obvious dehydration and hunger. The chains prevent her from moving her arms very far. They are shackled on via pins bent on each end; heavy tools are needed to open them (a hammer and metal punch for example) which she could not use even if she had them She is weak and will not move or attack. She is dressed much like the privileged women of fantasy courts, in flowing gossamer veils, a loin cloth, decorative bikini with turtle shell cups, and a necklace of fairly ordinary looking stone beads held together by what is dried gut. The clothing is made of a strange shimmering cloth that is not silk nor any other type the PCs would recognize (they
Ciphilie (AC 9 without armor, HD 3, hp 12, Mv 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite or 1 weapon, D 1-8 or by weapon, S F3, Ml 8, Al N) Spells (1): 1st level - cure light wounds, purify food and water Her father is a successful merchant and minor noble of her people who attracted envy and greed. In an attempt to gain control over him, his enemies captured her and condemned her to death unless he relented. He may have relented; all she knows is that she was left to die in the temple. If the party members agree to help her and go on an expedition, they find that she is a decent person. She will annoy some PCs and even find one or two of them annoying. She does not understand the PCs and will lead them to the underwater city without giving it a though, expecting them to be able to breath water like she can. If they do not have their own useful water breathing magic, she will lead them to another chamber in the temple where she kneels and prays, clapping her hands together. After some 30
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minutes a strange feeling comes over them. "You can now breathe water. But this is a boon of my goddess and she will not support it once your quest ends. Not any longer than you need to get your affairs in order and return to the surface." Ciphilie is a neried, a hand maiden and priestess of the ocean and sea goddess (Tethis). Each neried has a boon bestowed by her goddess in exchange for services. She has clerical abilities attuned to the ocean. Her necklace contains twelve different potions; they are poisonous to anyone else who drinks them. As it is, imbibing one renders her in a coma for 10 minutes after which it takes affect. Two allow her to speak and understand a strange language (she drank one; it will wear off in 8 weeks.) Three allow her to assume various sea-life forms for up to 1 hour each. Three will restore her to full hit points (she is still knocked comatose, so they are best used in emergencies.) Two allow her to control sea life for 10 minutes. One allows her to remain invisible for 6 hours. One is not explicitly defined; the DM should make up a suitable use for an occasion during the adventure.
who possesses a trident that emits electric shocks in a concentrated, purposely directed bolt that can stun if not kill human-sized creatures if they fail a saving throw versus dragons breath (otherwise it does 1d8 damage or 1d6 if used to thrust like a spear); range of the shock is 30/60/90. Spells (1): 1st level - purify food and water (which will counter ink clouds and poisons in the water) * Orania (AC 6, HD 2, hp 13, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F 2, ML 8, Al N), who is tattooed in garish shades and colors. She can summon sea life and control them. Three garishly colored sea snakes accompany her wherever she goes, ready to bite anyone who attempts to harm her (new ones will appear 1d6 hours later to replace any that are slain.) She summons 1d6 (1 - 6) bull sharks (AC 4, HD 2, MV 180' (60'), TH0 18, #A 1 bite, D 2-8, S F 1, ML 7, Al N) to aide the party. If the PCs need help, the mermaids use waterproof rope to make harnesses for sharks which they can hold onto . Spells (1): 1st level - cure light wounds Approaching the underwater city, the party is attacked by a collection of normal cephaloids and several shark-headed thugs of the villain.
The cephaloids live in the shallower, cleaner ocean waters around the islands where plenty of light comes through. Coral, some plants and many plant-like organisms cling to the sandy bottom. Fish, squid, eels and other sea life also thrive. If the party joins her in her quest to see what has happened to her father, she will lead them to a simple underwater cavern with a glass roof. Three mermaids are here and will join the party if they need help. These are also nerieds and each has some unique magical property due to her service to the goddess. These fish tailed ladies all hail from different mermaid kingdoms.
3 Shark headed Cephalapodians (AC 7, HD 3, hp 20, 17, 15, Mv 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite or 1 weapon, D 1-8 or by weapon, S F3, Ml 8, Al N) Possessions: leather armor (shark skin), sword 6 cephalapodian thugs (AC 7, HD 2, hp 13, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, Mv 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F2, Ml 7, Al N) Possessions: leather armor (shark skin), spear 12 cephalapodian thugs (AC 7, HD 1, hp 8, 8, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2,, Mv 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F1, Ml 7, Al N) Possessions: leather armor (shark skin), spear
* Atalia (AC 6, HD 2, hp 14, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F 2, ML 8, Al N) who can transform into a mako shark (AC 4, HD 4, hp 18, MV 180' (60'), TH0 16, #A 1 bite, D 2-12, S F 2, ML 7, Al N) or a lesser version of a giant squid (AC 7, HD 3, hp 15, MV 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 8 tentacles / 1 bite, D 1-3 tentacles/1-6 beak, S F 2, ML 9, Al N) when need be, up to 3 times per day. Spells (1): 1st level - cure light wounds
The villain appears; he has an octopi for a head and can create various special effects, blasting foes with a pulse through the water (1d6 damage, range 30/60/90), a stunning electric grasp (save versus paralysis or be stunned for 1d6+1 combat rounds), and squirting ink which can render a victim blind for 1d6 turns (10 - 60 minutes) unless they save versus poison.
* Ceria (AC 6, HD 2, hp 12, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F 2, ML 8, Al N)
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1 chief cephalapodian (AC 5, HD 5, hp 29, Mv 120' (40'), TH0 12, #A 1 bite or 1 weapon, D 1-8 or by weapon, S F5, Ml 9, Al C) Possessions: chain mail (scale armor made of sea shells), sword
forehead; he is stunned and taken prisoner. The council will convene to appoint a new king and meanwhile a celebration is in order. The cephaloids reward the party with money (1,000 g.p.), gems (2 x 500 g.p.), pearls (6 x 100 g.p.) and a supply of sacks and clothing made of the waterproof fibers they use. The later will cut and wear like normal clothing, but will not rot and can be sold for a dear price. They also offer a +1 spear and a charm that will summon nearby sea creatures to their aide or drive off 1d6 sea creatures of animal intelligence that are attacking the party (it works a maximum of 3 times before loosing it's power.)
If the PCs are beaten they are jailed and must escape. If the bad guys are beaten, the villain will try to flee to the city and resume the throne, attempting to use authority to overwhelm the party. If the PCs show initiative he is dethroned and jailed. If not, Cephile makes an impassioned rant and then a bubble of air pops up from the ocean floor, floats through the water and smacks the villain on the
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Random Lairs
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Part IV : Dreaded Island There are actually two "dreaded islands" - the north and south ones. The locals do not visit them very often. They think they are one island. They think the gap that separates the north and south islands is a harbor, never having went far enough into it to discover its true nature.
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Random Encounters Wildlife is everywhere. Encounters represent meetings with dangerous or unusual creatures. Herd animals (for example) will be stampeding, defending their young, etc. The tables also give the DM a list to refer to if they need ideas. An encounter might occur once per day (roll 1d6: a 5 or 6 indicates an encounter.) The DM can decide whether or not it occurs at night or roll randomly: if the PCs travel during the day then roll 1d6, 1-2 = night and 3-6 is day. Otherwise roll 1d6, 1-3 = night and 4-6 is day. There is one main table for the north and one for the south island. And tables to help with ocean or underwater exploration encounters.
Unusual Land Events Subtable
d20 1-2 3 4-5 6-8 9-10 11-12 13-18 19-20
APES/MONKEYS SUBTABLE Baboons (1 HD)* - 2d6 Cave Gorilla* - 1d4 Chimpanzees (1+1 to 2 HD)* - 2d6 Common Monkeys (1/2 HD)* - 3d6 Gorillas (4 HD)* - 2d4 Orangutans (2 to 3 HD)* - 1d6 Rock baboon (2 HD) - 2d6 White Ape (4 HD) - 1d6
d20 1-8 9-14 15-17 18-20
CROCODILES SUBTABLE Crocodile (2 HD) - 1d12 Crocodile, medium (4 HD) - 1d8 Crocodile, large (6 HD) - 1d4 Crocodile, giant (15 HD) - 1
d20 DINOSAURS, LAND SUBTABLE Carnivore, Large: 1-2 Allosaurus (12 HD)* - 1 3 Baryonyx (9 HD)* - 1 4 Carnotaurus (7 HD) * - 1 5 Gigantosaurus (20 HD)* - 1 6 Spinosaurus (18 HD)* - 1 7 Suchomimus (14 HD)* - 1 8-9 Tyrannosaurs rex (18 HD) - 1 Carnivore, Small: 10 Deinonychus* (3 HD) 11-12 Dromeaosaur* (1 to 3 HD) 13-18 Various 1-6 hit die * - 2d6 19-20 Velociraptor* (1 HD) - 2d6
Dreaded Isle Random Encounters: North d20 Encounter Table 1 Crocodiles Subtable 2-9 Dinosaurs, land carnivores 10-11 Dinosaurs, land vegetarians 12-13 Flying Encounter Subtable 14 Humans Subtable 15 Lizards Subtable 16 Insects Subtable 17 Snakes Subtable 18 Spiders Subtable 19-20 Unusual Land Events Subtable Dreaded Isle Random Encounters: South d20 Encounter Table 1 Apes/Monkeys Subtable 2 Crocodiles Subtable 3 Fantasy Creatures Subtable 4-5 Flying Encounter Subtable 6-8 Herd Animals Subtable 9-10 Humans Subtable 11 Insects Subtable 12 Lizards Subtable 13 Predators Subtable 14-15 Prehistoric Creatures Table 16 Prehistoric Lizards Subtable 17-18 Snakes Subtable 19 Spiders Subtable
d20 1-2 3-7
DINOSAUR SUBTABLE, VEGETARIAN Ankylosaur*/Nodosaurs* (7 HD) - 1d4 Ceratops(roll 1d20 or triceratops): 1-3 Centrosaurus* (7 HD) - 1d4 4-6 Chasmosaurus* (5 HD) - 1d6 7-9 Pentaceratops* (10 HD) - 1d6 10 Protoceratops* (2 HD) - 1d6 11-13 Styracosaurus* (6 HD) - 1d6 14-20 Triceratops (11 HD) - 1d6 8-10 Hadrosaurs* (10 HD) - 1d6 11-12 Iguanodon* (9 HD) - 1d6 13-14 Pachycephalosaurs (1-6 HD)
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15-19 Sauropods* (roll 1d20): 1-5 small (6 HD) - 1d6 6-15 medium (12 HD) - 1d6 16-18 large (18 HD) - 1d6 19-20 massive (38 HD) - 1d4 20 Stegosaurus (11 HD) - 1d6 d20 DINOSAURS, OCEAN (all are new) d20 for Hit Die/# Appear 1-10 11-19 20 1-3 Mosasaurs 1 - 2d6 6 - 1d6 12 - 1 4-10 Plesiosaurs 1 - 2d6 3 - 1d8 7-1 11-13 Pliosaurs 1 - 2d6 5 - 1d4 10 - 1 14-20 Ichthyosaurs 1 - 2d6 7 - 1d4 14 - 1 d20 FANTASY CREATURES SUBTABLE 1 Basilisk (6+1* HD) - 1d4 2 Blink Dog (4* HD) - 1d6 3-4 Carrion Crawler (3+1* HD) - 1d4 5 Cockatrice (5** HD) - 1d2 6 Displacer Beast (6 HD) - 1d4 7 Gargoyle (4 HD) - 1d4 8-10 Owl Bear (5 HD) - 1d4 11 Pegasus (2+2 HD) - 1d8 12-14 Rust Monster (5 HD) - 1d4 15 Treant (8 HD) - 1d4 16 Unicorn (4 HD) - 1 17-20 Troll (6+3* HD) - 1d4
d20 1 2 3 4 5-7 8 9-13 14 15-16 17 18-20
GLACIAL ENCOUNTERS Cave Bear (7 HD) - 1d4 Cave Lion* (7 HD) - 1d4 Cave Man (2 HD) - 2d6 Frost Giant (10+1 HD) - 1d2 Muskox (antelope 1 to 3 HD) Polar Bear (6 HD) - 1d4 Reindeer (antelope 2-3 HD) - 3d6 White Dragon (6 HD) - 1d3 Woolly Mammoth (6 HD) - 1d4 Woolly Rhino (8 HD) - 1d3 Wolves (2 HD) - 2d6
d20 1-10 11-15 16 17-18 19 20
HERD ANIMALS SUBTABLE Antelope/Zebra etc. (1 - 4 HD) - 6d6 Elephant (9 HD) - 1d6 Hippos (8 HD) - 1d6 Rhinos (6 HD) - 1d6 Wild Boar (3 HD) - 1d8 Wild Horses (2 HD, feral) - 2d6
d20 1 2 3 4 5-6 7 8-10 11 12-13 14 15-17 18-19 20
d100 FLYING ENCOUNTER TABLE 1 Bat, Giant (2 HD) - 2d6 2 Bee, Giant (1/2 HD) - 3d6 3 Dragon, Black (7 HD) - 1d3 low 4 Dragon, White (6 HD) - 1d3 low 5 Gargoyle (4 HD) - 1d4 6 Griffon (7 HD) - 1d4 7 Harpies (2 HD) - 2d6 8 Hawk, Giant (4 HD) - 1d6 9 Hippogriff (3 HD) - 1d8 10 Insect Swarm (2 - 4 HD) - 1d6 11 Manticore (6+1 HD) - 1d4 12 Pegasus (4 HD) - 1d6 13-14 Pteranodon (5 HD) - 1d4 15-16 Pterodactyl (1 HD) - 2d6 17 Roc, Small (6 HD) - 1d4 18 Stirge (1 HD) - 2d6 19 Unusual Flying Events SUBTABLE 20 Wyvern (7 HD) - 1d3 low
d20 1-2 3-4 5-15 16-18 19-20
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HUMANOIDS SUBTABLE FAIRIES: Dryad (2 HD) - 1 Nixie (1 HD) - 1 Pixie (1 HD) - 1 Sprite (1/2 HD) - 1 OTHER: Bugbears (3+1 HD) - 2d6 Goblins (1-1 HD) - 5d6 Gnolls (2 HD) - 3d6 Hobgoblins (1+1 HD) - 4d6 Lizardmen (2+1 HD) - 3d6 Kobolds (1/2 HD) - 6d6 Orcs (1 HD) - 5d6 Ogre (4+1 HD) - 1d6 Troglodytes (2 HD) - 3d6
HUMANS SUBTABLE Cannibals (1-1 HD) - 2d6 Cave men (2 HD) - 2d6 Natives, Friendly (1-1 HD) - 2d6 Natives, Hostile (1-1 HD) - 1d10 Pygmy Cannibals (1/2 HD) - 2d6
d20 1-5 6-8 9-11 12-13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
INSECTS SUBTABLE Ant, giant (4 HD) - 1d6 Bees, Giant (1/2 HD) - 2d6 Centipede, giant (1/2 HD) - 1d6 Scorpion, Giant (4 HD) - 1d6 Giant Ant Lion* (4 HD) - 1d6 Giant Bombardier Beetle (2 HD) - 1d12 Giant Fire Beetle (1+2 HD) - 1d6 Giant Preying Mantis* (5 HD) - 1d6 Giant Rhinoceros Beetle* (7 HD) - 1d2 Giant Stink Beetle* (3 HD) - 1d8 Giant Tiger Beetle (3+1 HD) - 1d8
d20 1-2 3-5 6-10 11-14 15-17 18-19 20 d20 1-6 7-8 9-12 13-14 15 16-17 18 19-20
d20
OCEAN ENCOUNTERS ON SURFACE 1-3 Aerial Encounter Table 4 Crocodile, giant (15 HD) - 1d2 7 Giant Squid (6 HD) - 1d3 8 Giant Water Termite (4 HD) - 1d4 9 Hydra, ocean (5 - 6 HD) - 1 10 Lizardmen (2+1 HD) - 1d12 11 Mermaids (1 HD) - 1d12 12-13 Pirates - shipload 14 Pirates - monstrous humanoids 15 Sea Dragon (8 HD) - 1 16 Sea Serpent (6 HD) - 1 17-18 Merchants - shipload 19 Becalmed for 1d6 days 20 Storm
LIZARDS SUBTABLE Dimetrodon* (5 HD) - 1d4 Giant Draco Lizard (4+2 HD) - 1d6 Giant Gecko (3+1 HD) - 1d6 Giant Horned Chameleon (5 HD) - 1d4 Giant Tautara (6 HD) - 1d4 Gorgonopsid* (3 HD) - 1d4 Komodo Dragon* (2 HD) - 1d8
d20 1 2 3 4 5-6 7-8 9-10
PREHISTORIC CREATURES TABLE Antelope, prehistoric (1-4 hit die) - 3d6 Cave Bear (7 HD) - 1d3 Cave Lion (7 HD)* - 1d6 Dire Wolf (4 HD) - 1d6 Elephant, Mammoths* (13 - 15 HD) - 1d4 Elephant, Mastodons (15 HD) - 1d4 Elephant, Shovel Tuskers* (7 - 10 HD) 1d4 11 Glyptodon* (4 HD) - 1d4 12 Hyenodon* (3+1 HD) - 1d8 13-14 Hyena, Prehistoric* (4+1 HD) - 1d8 15-16 Saber-tooth cat (8 HD) - 1d3 17-18 Terror Bird* (3 HD) - 1d8 19 Titanothere (12 HD) - 1d3 20 Woolly Rhinos (HD 12) - 1d3
PREDATORS SUBTABLE Hyena (2+1 HD) - 1d10 Leopard (mountain lion 3+2 HD) - 1d3 low Lion (HD 5) - 2d6 Rats, giant (1/2 HD) - 2d6 Shrew, Giant (1 HD) - 1d8 Tiger (6 HD) - 1d3 low Weasel, giant (4+4 HD) - 1d6 Wild Hunting Dogs* (see "dog" 1 HD) - 2d6
d20 SNAKES SUBTABLE 1-4 Giant Rattlesnake (2 HD) - 1d6 5-10 Pit Viper (1 HD) - 1d6 11-15 Python (5 HD) - 1d3 16 Sea Snake (3 HD) - 1d2 17-20 Spitting Cobra (1 HD) - 1d4 d20 1-4 5-8 9-12 13-16 17-20
d20 UNDERWATER OCEAN ENCOUNTERS 1 Common Eel* - 1d6 2 Crocodiles (roll 1d12): 1-6 Crocodile (2 HD) - 1d12 7-9 Crocodile, medium (4 HD) - 1d8 10-11 Crocodile, large (6 HD) - 1d4 12 Crocodile, giant (15 HD) - 1 3 Giant Crab (3 HD) - 1d8 4 Giant Eels (roll 1d20): 1-12 Giant Eel (2 HD)* - 1d6 13-17 Giant Eel (4 HD)* - 1d3 18-20 Giant Eel (6 HD)* - 1d2
SPIDERS SUBTABLE Giant Black Widow (3 HD) - 1d6 Giant Crab Spider (2 HD) - 1d6 Giant Tarantula (8 HD) - 1d3 Giant Trapdoor Spider (4 HD)* - 1d6 Giant Wolf Spider (1 to 2 HD)* - 2d6
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5 6 7 8 9-11 12-16 17-18 19-20
Giant Jellyfish* (6 HD) - 1d4 Giant Octopus (8 HD) - 1d2 Giant Squid (6 HD) - 1d3 Hydra, ocean (5 - 6 HD) - 1 Unusual Underwater Events Table Shark, bull (2 HD) - 1d6 Shark, great white (8 HD) - 1 Shark, mako (6 HD) - 1d3
d20
UNUSUAL AERIAL EVENTS SUBTABLE 1 Djinni (7+1 HD) - 1 2 Elemental, Air (8 HD) - 1d3 3 Giant, Cloud (12+3 HD ) - 1d2 4 Sprites (1/2 HD) - 1d6 5 Glowing light flash past and disappear Weather: 6 Obscured ground 7 Freezing storm 8-11 Overcast to high altitude 12-15 Storm with lightning 16-20 Storm with primarily wind and rain
d20 UNUSUAL UNDERWATER OCEAN ENCOUNTERS 1 Crocodiles SUBTABLE 2 Giant Cone Snail* (3 HD) - 1 3 Giant Diving Bell Spider* (4 HD) - 1d6 4 Giant Piranha (4 HD) - 1d3 5 Giant Water Termite (4 HD) - 1d4 6 Huge Barracuda (5 HD) - 1d4 7 Hydra, ocean (5 - 6 HD) - 1 8 Killer Whale (6 HD) - 1d3 9 Lizard man (2 HD) - 1d12 10-11 Mermaids (1 HD) - 1d12 12 Nixie (1 HD) - 1d6 13 Sea Dragon (8 HD) - 1 14 Sea Serpent (6 HD) - 1 15 Sea Snake (3 HD) - 1 16-18 Sea Turtle, common* (2 HD) - 1d12 19-20 Sea Turtle, large* (4 HD) - 1d6
* New Monster
Unusual Land Events Subtable Explanations A random item goes missing. One or more minor items go missing, lost or pilfered. Dead fall. This can only happen in jungles and forests. An old tree decides to collapse when the PCs pass by. Randomly pick someone; they are attacked by a 2 hit die creature and take 3-18 (3d6) damage if hit. Drums in the distance (the drummers are not found). As it says. Illness. All members of the party must save versus poison/disease (apply constitution modifier) or come down with an illness due to bad water or insects. Cure disease spells and potions will negate even the worst effects. proper non-magical treatment reduces the duration and should give a bonus to saving throws. An extreme illness lays them low (they cannot move and are delirious) for 1d6 (1-6) days (add 1d6 (1-6) if no one is there to care for them) after which they must save versus poison/disease (apply constitution modifier) or remain ill for 1d6 more days. A mild illness gives them flu-like symptoms that inflict a -2 penalty (using a d20; -10% for d100 rolls, etc.) to most actions. It lasts for 1d6 (1-6) days (add 1d6 (1-6) if no one is there to care for them). A quickly fatal illness lays them out with delirium and weakness: they must save versus poison/disease or die after 2d6 (2-12) days (in 1d6 (1-6) days if no one is there to care for them). Earth quake. The ground shakes violently for 1d6 (1-6) rounds. Everyone must save versus paralysis (with dexterity score modifiers) or fall off
d20 1 2 3
UNUSUAL LAND EVENTS SUBTABLE A random item goes missing Dead Fall Drums in the distance (the drummers are not found) 4-5 Illness, extreme 6-7 Illness, mild 8-9 Illness, quickly fatal 10 Earth quake 11 Extremely stormy weather 12 Forest fire 13 Flash flood 14 Giant Leech (6 HD) - 1d4 15 Lights appear, waft through the air and blink out 16 Mud bog 17-18 Lost 19 Snake Bite or Poison Sting 20 Trees creak and move away
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their feet. There is a 1 in 6 chance of panicked herd animals crashing through the party; each member is attacked by a 3 hit die creature (TH0 14) and if hit takes 1d6 (1-6) points of damage from flying debris, slipping, etc. Extremely stormy weather . A violent storm hits the area for 1d6 days. The party must find shelter (cave, hut, etc.) Each day they remain outside, a person is attacked by a 6 hit die creature (TH0 14) and if hit takes 2d6 (2-12) points of damage from flying debris, slipping, etc. Forest fire. A fire blazes and surrounds the party for 1d6 hours. Each hour the characters are attacked as if by a 1 hit die creature (TH0 19; modfied by methods used to avoid the flames) and if injured take 1d6 (1-6) hit points damage. Flash flood. Storms cause the area to flood with torrents of water. If in boats on a river, the party will be swept downstream and must avoid being overturned, or they must seek shelter on high ground. Members on the ground must seek shelter and will be hindered from moving for 1d6 days. Drowning or being swept away and injured is a high risk for anyone who tries to "push on" through the region. Lights appear , waft through the air and blink out. No known cause. Lost. The party is lost for 1d6 (1-6) days. If they sit and do nothing they remain lost for that much longer. They must move around to regain their bearings. If you are using a character or skill devoted to navigation, you might allow a roll to see if they prevent this. Mud bog. One or more party members (1d4) get into a mud bog before realizing it and get bogged down. They begin sinking at a rate of 1 foot per 1d6 rounds. If the mud goes over the height of the character, they begin drowning and will die in 2 to 3 minutes unless rescued (if character heights are not specified, use the heights given in the rules.) Rescue involves using ropes, vines (unreliable), or poles and pitting strength against the bog. Something like an open doors roll. Snake Bite or Poison Sting. Poisonous creatures are common and everywhere. Someone has the misfortune of doing the wrong thing in the wrong place. Randomly pick a victim; they must save versus poison or be incapacitated by severe illness for 1d6 hours, at the end of which they must save versus poison again or die. Trees creak and move away
Unusual Aerial Events Explanations Glowing lights flash past and disappear . The source is never discovered. Obscured Ground. Fog or low clouds obscure the ground for up to 1d6 x 500 feet. Anyone flying cannot tell if they are over land or water. They must land slowly and carefully or crash. Safe movement speed in the fog is at best 30' (10'). Freezing storm. A high altitude cold front rapidly freezes cloud vapor on all wings and surfaces. Overcast to high altitude. Past 1d6 x 100 feet up is a wall of thick clouds extending as far as 1d6 x 5000 feet into the air. Storm with lightning. A storm of strong winds and rain (per below) also creates continuous deadly lightning. Storm with primarily wind and rain. Strong winds and rain below fliers about like leaves in a breeze. Landing will be difficult and a crash possible; not landing will mean the fliers are carried with the storm for 1d6 days in a random direction.
Specific Encounters Set encounters give the DM ideas to use. They can use them instead of random encounters, or with them. While keyed to specific places, the DM can always pluck one out and use it wherever they wish. Especially for players who do not explore much of the islands. The idea is that a set encounter might occur when the PCs enter one of the 6 surrounding hexes (provided the encounter fits said hex.) If encounters are occurring too frequently, the DM can roll 1d6 and allow a set encounter only if it shows a 5 or 6 (or some other number range as fits their needs). Ocean encounters are listed first, then land encounters.
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flying 180' (60'), TH0 19, #A 1 bite, D 1-3, S F1, ML 7, Al N) will find the ship and fly down to flog and attack the crew. They will be joined by 4 larger pterranodons (AC 6, HD 5, hp 16, 14, 22, 20, MV flying 240' (120'), TH0 15, #A 1 bite, D 1-12, S F 3, ML 8, Al N) some 2d4 (2-8) rounds later - they drop rocks at key PCs and if they hit they do 1d4 points damage before getting in close. These creatures attack as if trying to drive the PCs off. Regardless of any success they have, eventually they will give up and respect the party's ship as something other than a fish-eater
O1. ORC PIRATES. Off the coast here, the party's ship is attacked by up to three small longships full of orcs. Each has a compliment of 25, has 20 - 30 hull points, AC 8, and a cargo capacity of around 10,000 coins. They attack in disorder from a lack of training: often only one will spot a ship first and charge in before the others can get close. Each crew maintains a different speed and the commander of the ship has different ideas about trying to board victims. Orc longship #1 Human Meat Eater hull pts 25, crew 25:
O3. BOTTLES. Caught in a swirling pool here is a collection of 20 glass bottles and clay jars. Rowboats (let alone sailing ships) can pass through easily. Many of the containers are empty or contain sea water. One contains a soggy note that reads "My greed finally caught up with me." and a crude map leading to ocean encounter #O5. Another contains a poem to an ocean goddess written in Dwarven.
Leader (AC 6, HD 2, hp 11, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F 2, ML 8, Al C) necklace worth 250 g.p. 24 orcs (AC 6, HD 1, hp 8, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-6 or weapon, S F 1, ML 8 (6), Al C) each with 10 g.p.
O4. SKULL AND CRABS. This bay is often calm, but the shores are often foggy. The great stone statue of a cyclops skull rests at the foot of a trail in the upper north end. The shallows along this coast line are inhabited by five giant crabs and their offspring. Also lurking here is a huge crab that preys off other crabs and large fish. Encrusted in it's rough outer shell are 6 pearls (100 g.p. each) and three gems (250 g.p. each.)
Orc longship #2 Dwarf Stew Maker hull pts 25, crew 25 Leader (AC 6, HD 2, hp 11, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F 2, ML 8, Al C) gold bracers worth 250 g.p. 24 orcs (AC 6, HD 1, hp 8, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-6 or weapon, S F 1, ML 8 (6), Al C) each with 10 g.p.
1 Huge Crab (AC 0, HD 6, hp 26, MV 60' (20'), TH0 14, #A 2 pincers, D 3-18/3-18, S F3, ML 9, Al N)
Orc longship #3 Red Flesh Render hull pts 25, crew 25
5 Giant Crabs (AC 2, HD 3, hp 18, 18, 17, 12, 10, MV 60' (20'), TH0 17, #A 2 pincers, D 2-12/212, S F2, ML 7, Al N)
Leader (AC 6, HD 2, hp 11, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F 2, ML 8, Al C) dagger with jeweled pommel worth 250 g.p.
6 Giant crab offspring (AC 4, HD 1, hp 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 2, MV 60' (20'), TH0 19, #A 2 pincers, D 14/1-4, S NM, ML 7, Al N)
24 orcs (AC 6, HD 1, hp 8, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-6 or weapon, S F 1, ML 8 (6), Al C) each with 10 g.p.
O5. SHIPWRECK. Hove to in a relatively calm cove along the beach is the smashed hulk of a small sailing ship. It is slowly rotting apart. The mast is bare of sails and the entire hulk is leaning over. The mast is decorated by five skeletons hanging off one side and four off the other (these are harmless, not undead). There is nothing of worth or importance on the hulk. The beach is muddy and earthen. Up away
O2. WINGED TERROR. These straights are home to swarms of birds and flying dinosaurs. The PCs will see flocks of pterosaurs attacking plesiosaurs near the water surface, vying for fishing rights. Later, a gaggle of 12 pterodactyls (AC 7, HD 1, hp 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, MV
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from the waves - under the shelter of a rock sprawls another skeleton, in the rotten typical seafaring garb of a pirate. The wisps of an ancient beard straggle on it's chest and the eye patch hangs down one side. A rusty but serviceable dagger (it turns out to be a silver dagger; the rust is a combination of dried blood and mild corrosion) is beside it on the ground, along with various palm leaves and what might once have been fruit and coconuts. (Insects have eaten much.) Clutched in its bony hands is a wooden plank carved with a crude map and the words. "Have mercy on me for my greed." The map is a torturous route through the jungle. It is obvious that it starts at the given location and heads for a high volcano inland. At one point it becomes senseless and if followed asis leads to no where but miles of jungle. The only clue is a strange symbol at that point. The symbol forms an "arrow" pointing to a volcano that does not exist. Making sense of the map requires the user to turn the board to where the arrow points towards the volcano they can see, and then follow the marked route in a different direction. The pirate's treasure can be found in a volcanic cave in a small rocky hill. The main occupant is a flame salamander (AC 2, HD 8*, hp 35, MV 120' (40'), TH0 12, #A 2 claws/1 bite, D 14/1-4/1-8, S F8, ML 8, Al N) The treasure consists of a scroll of fireball, a magic user's spell book with only three useful pages (rot and bookworms have eaten the rest; choose three handy spells), 200 p.p., 2,000 g.p., 2,300 e.p., and 1,000 s.p. A sword +2 in a plain sheath leans against one wall.
50 g.p. and 6 x 25 g.p.), plus a collections of silver necklaces and wrist bands worth 100 g.p. each (12 total.) O7. CYCLOPS AND OGRES. As the party comes near this area, a gong starts sounding stridently on shore. This is a cyclops (AC 5, HD 13*, hp 60, MV 90' (30'), TH0 10, #A 1, D 3-30, S F13, ML 9, Al C) trying to lure the party to shore. If they land, they arrive at the rubble strewn remnants of an ancient city (little is standing.) The cyclops will send it's six ogre allies (AC 5, HD 4 + 1, hp 21, 20, 16, 15, 14, 12, MV 90' (30'), TH0 15, #A 1 club, D 1-10, S F4, ML 10, Al C) to attack the party, then follow up to kill the rest off. Treasure: battle axe +2 1,500 g.p., 1,200 s.p., 5 sets of silver cups and plates worth 500 g.p. (weight 100 coins) 6 x 100 g.p. gems and 2 x 500 g.p. gems used to stud the cyclops' belt. O8. WATER STRIDERS. What looks like floating weeds turns out to be something else. Spider-like creatures come slithering across the water on hairy legs to scale the sides of the ship and attack the crew. These consist of: 12 water striders (AC 5, HD 3, hp 21, 18, 16, 16, 15, 15, 12, 9, 9, 6, 6, 5, MV 150' (50'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite, D 1-6, S F2, ML 8, Al N)
O9. SHIPWRECK. Sticking out of the water is the mast of a sunken ship, complete with a pennant flapping in the wind. The water is clear enough to see the bottom, but only vaguely. The mast marks the deck and deck house lying on a shallow reef. The hull with the cargo and treasure lies in deeper (but still accessible) water. It is now the lair of a giant octopus (AC 7, HD 8, hp 36, MV 90' (30'), TH0 12, #A 8 tentacles/1 bite, D 1-3 (x8)/1-6, S F 4, ML 7, Al N). The treasure includes 100 p.p., 2,000 g.p., 500 e.p., 3,000 s.p. and 4,000 c.p.
O6. HARPIES. A group of harpies use the cliff faces along the ocean here as a fortress, swooping inland or over the ocean to attack potential prey. They drop rocks and occasional jars of oil with flaming wicks at foes, then close in. 12 harpies (AC 7, HD 3*, hp 18, 16, 14, 14, 12, 12, 12, 11, 10, 10, 8, 6, MV 60' (20') Fly 150' (50'), TH0 17, #A 2 claws/1 weapon + special, D 1-4/14/1-6 + special, S F3, ML 7, Al C)
O10. MERMEN. The sound of angelic singing comes across the waves; several mermaids are lounging on the rocky shore of a small island. They call out friendly greetings if the party approaches, suggesting the party stop for food and water. The little island does have a fresh water pool and plenty of fruit as well as crabs, fish and sea fowl. The water is clear enough for navigation but the waves obscure the fine details of the bottom. In the water around the ship will gather 36
They nest in caves and hollows in the cliff face; the area is littered with bones, including skulls and long limb bones from people (mostly natives). Anyone captured will eventually be slaughtered and eaten, unless they can break free or are rescued first. Their treasure consists of a bag with crystal cut gems (5 x 100 g.p.) and pearls (4 x 100 g.p., 3 x
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mermen:
4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-6 or weapon, S F 1, ML 8 (6), Al C) each with 10 g.p.
1 pirate leader (AC 6, HD 4, MV 120' (40'), TH0 16, #A 1, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F 2, ML 8, Al N) with a gem encrusted gold necklace worth 500 g.p.
12 wolves (AC 7, HD 2+2, hp 16, 14, 12, 10, 10, 8, 8, 8, 8, 6, 6, MV 180' (60'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite, D 1-6, S F1, ML 8 (6), Al N)
4 leaders (AC 6, HD 2, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F 2, ML 8, Al N) with coral necklaces worth 100 g.p. and 100 g.p. gems on a thong
6 dire wolves (AC 6, HD 4+1, hp 31, 28, 26, 20, 18, 16, MV 150' (50'), TH0 15, #A 1 bite, D 2-8, S F 2, ML 8, Al N)
31 mermen (AC 6, HD 1 to 4, MV 120' (40'), TH0 20 - HD, #A 1, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F 1, ML 8, Al N) each with a coral necklace worth 50 g.p.
There is a treasure chest with 1,000 g.p. in it in one locked wooden hut. After a few days by a patrol will return after an extended reconnaissance of the area. If the ships have been sunk or captured, they will set to work chopping down trees to make a small sailing ship.
They have grappling hooks, ropes with lassos, and bone tipped javelins. A dozen grappling hooks will be slipped under rocks in the shallows under the ship and thrown over the rail, then pulled tight and tied off. The others will be thrown at the rigging and then the merfolk will attempt to attack the ship. Some will use lassos to try to drag crew overboard to use them as hostages (the chance of success is low but they keep trying.) The ropes they use (about 30 all told) are 60' long and made of a waterproof, rot resistant seaweed fiber that makes them worth 10 g.p. each or so (about 10 times the normal price for rope.) If allowed, they will ransack the ship, stealing anything they can.
1 orc leader (AC 6, HD 2, hp 11, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F 2, ML 8, Al C) dagger with jeweled pommel worth 250 g.p. 24 orcs (AC 6, HD 1, hp 8, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-6 or weapon, S F 1, ML 8 (6), Al C) each with 10 g.p.
2. BIRDS, BIRDS, BIRDS. While passing through this region, the jungle is quiet ordinary. Suddenly a raucous squabbling erupts from the trees all around them as dozens of ordinary birds fly at the PCs with unrestrained anger. They peck and claw at the PCs, not necessarily trying to kill them but definitely inflicting injury on them. They will try to destroy food and gear if they can. When a number of birds have been slain, the rest flee. A few hours or a day later, another flock attacks the party, with the same effect. If the party lingers, a large flock of birds fly down and assault them. This region is the realm of a fairy spirit that dislikes all intelligent beings. It is controlling the birds and sending them to drive the PCs off.
Land encounters follow.. 1. ORCS ON LAND. This is the base for the pirates in ocean encounter #01. A wooden stockade fills a clearing, inside which thatched huts and hide yurts are standing. Several simple, rickety watch posts are along the stockade, manned by an orc in each. A small contingent of orcs are on land while the rest are out to sea. They have a collection of wolves to use as guards; couriers or leaders ride dire wolves. 1 orc chief (AC 6, HD 4, hp 25, MV 120' (40'), TH0 16, #A 1 weapon, D 3-8 or weapon + 2, S F 4, ML 8, Al C), +1 war hammer
3. COTTON PLANTS. Traveling through the broken, hot, rocky lands, the PCs come across a field of large cotton-like plants. The bolls they produce are huge, weighing at least 10 pounds each, and the seeds are all on one end of the boll, making them easy to extract. The plants also develop pods of gooey sap, which can be processed into vivid dyes: reds, blues, and greens
1 orc leader (AC 6, HD 2, hp 11, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F 2, ML 8, Al C) dagger with jeweled pommel worth 250 g.p. 24 orcs (AC 6, HD 1, hp 8, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4,
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for starters. If the players are enterprising, they can have the characters collect a great deal of this stuff (there is about 1d6+6 (7-12) tons (140,000 280,000 coins) available in the area) of this cottony fiber and sell it for perhaps 100 g.p. a ton. The seeds and any sapling brought back with them will fetch a nice price; the buyers will use them to raise additional crops. Doing so will provide a cheap supply of fiber for cloth making as well as a supply of good dyes.
each other on some form of anti-gravity propulsion. They are working at cross purposes. Each is working on a pile of rocks; each is taking rocks from it's pile and stacking it on the other's pile. If captured, each robot will struggle to get free and resume it's work, or until it burns out and becomes a useless hulk. Underneath one pile of rocks is a strange hand fitting device (a flashlight) that weighs 3 coins and emits a bright light if squeezed (the light is bright to 30' and dim to 60' and illuminates a 10' wide beam.) It has enough power to last perhaps 120 hours (5 days of continual use). Under the other pile of rocks is an alien skeleton in the shreds of a silvery suit of some sort: the rotted, bony form is squat, with a bulging insect skull, four-gangling arms with three superlong fingers on each, and four long legs with claws. The silvery suit is shredded and gouged from teeth and claws. In one hand is a strange pistol-like device of shining plastics. If gripped like a pistol and the trigger is pulled, it emits a ray beam that does 2d6 points damage with a hit; the accurate range with practice is 80/160/240 (two-handed) or 40/80/120 (one-handed) although careful aim and a good brace could extend this to five times the range. The device will fire 16 shots before it needs to recharge (it takes about 1/2 hour to recharge one shot.) There is a 1 in 6 chance per use that it will explode when fired, doing 1d6 damage to the user (save versus dragon breath for half damage.) Eventually it will age and become useless, even if it fails to blow up.
4. PARASITIC WASP ATTACK. The party is attacked by 9 giant parasitic wasps (AC 6, HD 3, hp 21, 20, 17, 15, 11, 7, 7, 7, 6, MV 150' (50'), TH0 17, #A 1 sting, D 1-6 + paralyzing poison + egg, S F2, ML 9, Al N). A sting will paralyze a victim who fails a saving throw versus poison: paralysis lasts for 1d6 turns (10 - 60 minutes.) A paralyzed victim will be stung a second time, injecting an egg. There will be no obvious signs of the egg for 1d6 days, after which the victim begins to suffer pain and take damage (1d2 points the first day, 1d4 the next, 1d6 the third, 1d8 the forth and so on) until the victim dies, or the egg is removed by surgery or a cure disease spell is cast on them. If the victim is slain by the larva's development, the new wasp emerges as a 1 hit die version and tries to fly off, requiring 1d6 combat rounds to dry it's wings. 5. FLYING SAUCER REMAINS. Crashed in the swampy area formed by melt water from the great glacier is a circular disk perhaps ten feet high and thirty feet round; it is thin on the edges but thickens in the center to a bulge. The bulb is smashed and various odd bits of machinery can be seen inside. It is halfway grown over with vines and weeds. This flying saucer crashed here centuries ago. As the PCs watch, a vine suddenly curls and slides across the plastic-like silver surface to fall away; the static defenses in its body are slowly loosing out to vegetation. If the PCs approach the vehicle, a burbling noise will erupt then settle down into a computerized strain of the language they speak. The onboard computer will ask several simple questions such as, "Have you come to recover me?" or "What planet is this?" or "Have you seen those who flew me?" It will remain quiet after a few such phrases. The most it can answer to questions are things like, "We flew here 500 years ago." and "I come from the stars." or "I was made by my makers many light years away." Two squat robots are flying back and forth past
6. CANNIBALS AND OGRES. A tribe of cannibals (AC 9, HD 1-1, hp 3 each, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1, D 1-6 or by weapon, S NM, ML 7, Al C) operate in this area; they live in a village surrounded by a large wooden stockade. Three ogres (AC 5, HD 4+1, hp 27, 18, 18, MV 90' (30'), TH0 15, #A 1 club, D 1-10, S F4, ML 10, Al C) form their primary strike force when faced by tough foes. Treasure: 100 p.p., 2,000 g.p., 1,500 s.p. and 1,200 e.p. 7. TERROR BIRDS. This area includes open grassy fields. A large pylon with runic carvings rises from the grass. From out of the grass comes the call of a titanic bird. Another answers - the terror birds have the party surrounded! Six terror birds (AC 7, HD 3, hp 22, 17, 15, 12, 10, 7, MV 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite, D 1-8, S F3, M 8, AL N) attack the party,
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coming at them from different directions. There is a communal nest site around the base of the pylon amid rocky rubble. Three more terror birds (AC 7, HD 3, hp 17, 13, 15, MV 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite, D 1-8, S F3, M 8, AL N) attend the nests. Woven into the grass and limber branches of the nest is a shattered broom of flying (it has no magic left in it), wand of magic missiles (12 charges left), a leather pouch with 1,000 g.p. in it, and boots of elven kind.
flesh potions for a full month. The first PC to make use of this gains a permanent bonus of 1 to their wisdom score (if they have a score of 18 in wisdom, then the next PC gets the benefit.) The statues of the three men standing in a circle are natives (AC 9, HD 1-1, hp 7, 5, 4, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1, D 1-6 or by weapon, S NM, ML 7, Al N) to the village of Garuna on Snakeline island and will be grateful if rescued. The statue scrambling up the island is the husband (AC 9, HD 1-1, hp 6, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1, D 1-6 or by weapon, S NM, ML 7, Al N) of Lina-Lie in the village of Gali.
8. [Left open for expansion] 9. STATUES. The PCs come to a cliff side that is fairly clear of trees and has low grasses on it. Several sheep and a small herd of goats can be seen browsing on the grass. Occasional marble or white granite stone structures jut out of the green grassed hillside, the remains of ancient buildings. The graying statue of a human male is found hunched over as if scrambling up the slope. On further up are three more humanoid statues, standing or sitting in a circle as if around a camp fire, their faces turned in one direction. These statues have the features and dress of local islanders. Sliding around in the ruins up top is are four hybrid medusas (AC 6, HD 4**, hp 23, 21, 19, 17, MV 90' (30'), TH0 16, #A 1 snakebite + special, D 1-6 + poison, S F4, ML 8, Al C) who have snake bodies instead of legs. Each carries a long bow and quiver of arrows and wears leather armor (AC 8 without it.) One has an elaborate silver necklace worth 500 g.p. and the other three have pouches with 500 g.p. and 300 s.p. in each. A small temple stands at the top, featuring a fountain that drips water ever so slowly. Engraved in common on the rim are the words "Stone becomes flesh, but only with sacrifice." followed by the number 1,100. [Note: stone to flesh is a sixth level magic user spell with access gained at 11th level. Adjust pricing to suit needs.] Placing 1,100 g.p. worth of gems or coins (or such) in the water causes it to dissolve. This enables one vial full; it takes a vial full to turn a living creature from stone to flesh (it has no effect on statues and other stone objects, only living beings petrified by magic.) There is enough water to restore the natives and any petrified PCs. The drip flows at a rate of 1 vial per week; any attempt to increase this rate or manhandle the shrine destroys its magic. Placing water or any other liquid in the fountain will cause the liquid to turn red (but otherwise not change it) and pollute the fountain such that it will not provide any stone-to-
10. WINDMILLS. A series of vaguely pillar-like buildings are seen in the grasslands here. Each is the remains of a windmill, once used to grind grain or run irrigation pumps. Much of the terrain is divided into squares with tall mounds of earth overgrown with brush. Some squares are standing pool of water and besides fish, snakes and weeds have rice growing in them. 11. SNAKEMAN ENCOUNTER. Snakeman lair scenario
See
the
12. [Left open for expansion] 13. CHAMELEON FOLK. Six strange creatures that look kind of like lizardmen but more like frogs will begin stalking the PCs moment they enter this area. Their intent is to eat them. The skin of these chameliods (AC 5, HD 2+1, hp 14, 8, 12, 12, 10, 4, MV 60' (20') In water: 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F2, ML 12, Al N) will change color and texture to blend in with the background or whatever they cling to. This makes them extremely hard to see unless someone is alert, and even then there is usually a 1 in 6 chance someone will not see one even if they stare right at it. Their long fingered hands and toes have bulbous sticky ends that can cling to just about anything, letting them hang upside down let alone in any other posture; they try to stick to the huge trees in the area to further avoid detection. They use blowguns (with a very short range: 30/60/90 feet or 10/20/30 yards) with needle-like darts that do no physical damage beyond a sting; a victim must save versus poison or be paralyzed for 1d6 turns (10 to 60 minutes.) They want their meat fresh. They make their own poison, each having a dozen darts and a small bamboo tube of poison (about enough for 12 darts or 3 or 4 arrows) with a bamboo cap on a leather thong; this
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poison will loose potency in 3 days or so.
poison, S F2, ML 9, Al N) who's sting will do damage and paralyze a victim if they fail a saving throw versus poison. The wasps try to paralyze PCs and fly off with them to a soft hillside nearby, where they will dig holes, place the PC inside, lay an egg and cover the hole. Finding the wasp hive will be fairly easy by following the direction of flight and because the hill is the closest one around. So will finding the PCs (if any) who are taken; fresh holes are obvious by the loose dirt around them. Each victim has about 1d6 days before the egg hatches and they are eaten. The paralysis lasts 2d6 (2-12) days; drinking wine or other stimulates will help counter it much faster. Buried in one hallow is a cannibal native body with a necklace of gems (2 x 100 g.p. and 3 x 50 g.p.) and 30 g.p. in lumps of raw gold.
Chameliod Abode. This strange lair combines above ground and below ground elements. It is home to the chameliods. Chameliods (AC 6 natural hide, HD 2+1, hp 14, 8, 12, 12, 10, 4, MV 60' (20') In water: 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F2, ML 12, Al N) The chameliods keep giant stink beetles (AC 3, HD 3, MV 150' (50'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite, D 1-10, S F2, ML 9, Al N) as part of their defense. Several members have wings and can fly via bat-like wings. They often carry javelins or swords. Winged chameliods (AC 6 natural hide, HD 2+1, hp 14, 8, 12, 12, 10, 4, MV 60' (20') In water: 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F2, ML 12, Al N)
16. GNOLLS ON THE GRASSLAND. A band of gnolls attacks the party. The leader rides in a chariot pulled by a giant hyena while a dozen gnolls rush in on foot supported by six hyenas. The leader will use a long bow or spears while the chariot driver follows his barked directions.
The alpha female can spit poison, and her claws and fangs are poisoned.
1 gnoll leader (AC 5, HD 3, hp 19, MV 90' (30'), TH0 17, #A 1 weapon, D 2-8 or by weapon +1, S F3, ML 8, Al C) who wears a jewel encrusted helmet worth 1,000 g.p. (200 g.p. collector's value and 8 x 100 g.p. gems plus helmet.) In the chariot is a bag with 250 g.p., 500 s.p. and 100 c.p.
Alpha female chameliod (AC 6 natural hide, HD 6, hp 30, MV 60' (20') In water 120' (40'), TH0 14, #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F6, ML 12, Al N) The treasure of these creatures includes an array of delicately carved ivory figurines and jewelery worth 3,000 g.p. These are created by a covey of inoffensive pygmy people who they keep for food and general slave labor. There is another 1,000 g.p. in coins collected by these peoples, hoping to bribe their freedom from anyone they can. A suit of human-sized leather armor (which can be easily adjusted to smaller sizes) stands to one side. It is a +2 suit of chameleon leather armor ; as long as the wearer relies mainly on it for clothing, it gives a bonus to hiding (such as a +10% bonus to hiding in shadows) by blending with the general light and colors of the surroundings.
1 gnoll chariot driver (AC 5, HD 2, hp 11, MV 90' (30'), TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D 2-8 or by weapon +1, ML 8, Al C) with a purse with 100 g.p. 1 giant hyena (AC 7, HD 4+4, MV 180' (60'), TH0 15, #A 1 bite, D 2-12, S F2, ML 8 (6), Al N) with a gem studded collar worth 250 g.p. 12 gnolls (AC 5, HD 2, hp 14, 12, 12, 11, 11, 11, 10, 10, 10, 6, 5, 4, MV 90' (30'), TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D 2-8 or by weapon +1, S F2, ML 8, Al C) each with 30 g.p. 6 hyenas [wolf statistics] (AC 7, HD 2+2, 13, 11, 11, 11, 8, 6, MV 180' (60'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite, D 1-6, S F 1, ML 8 (6), Al N)
14. [Left open for expansion] 17. MANTICORE ATTACK. Three manticores (AC 4, HD 6+1, hp 29, 23, 20, MV 120' (40') 180' (60'), TH0 13, #A 2 claws/1 bite or spikes, D 1-4/14/2-8 or special, S F6, ML 9, Al C) inhabit this area. If the PCs need a challenge, then all three
15. GRAVEDIGGER WASP ATTACK. The party is attacked by 7 giant gravedigger wasps (AC 5, HD 4, hp 24, 23, 18, 14, 13, 13, 12, MV 150' (50'), TH0 16, #A 1 sting, D 1-8 + paralyzing
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have sized them up and attack at once; otherwise they attack one at a time, the calls of each attracting the others. Manticores that have lost a number of hit points will fly off to their lair, if they can. The location of their nearby cave lair is obvious by the preferred direction of their flight. It contains their treasure: 13 gems worth 200 g.p. each. and 2,000 g.p.
the ground sounds. From out of the jungle appears a towering iron statue some sixty feet high: it is shaped like an elfin woman in decorated robes. This thing ignores everything the characters might do to it (if they have extremely powerful magic they might bring it down.) It passes by. As they travel on they find a cleared pathway as if it has been marching on patrol for centuries. An ancient stone paved road appears and crosses a river where a massive bridge once stood. The bridge has recently collapsed and the patrolling device changed it's route to compensate.
18. [Left open for expansion] 19. CULT OF EVIL SCOUTS. Across a clearing appears a human in black chain mail armor riding a kangaroo about the size of a horse; he has stopped and is looking around. He carries a ready lance for a charge and has javelins on his back and a sword and shield strapped to his belt. Three more join him on other kangaroos, equipped the same. They spot the PCs and come charging across the clearing. One blows a horn. Some 1d6 round later six more will appear. These all have amulets with cyclopean eyes and are tattooed with runes devoted to the same god of evil.
22. [Left open for expansion] 23. LIZARDS WORKING. From a distance through the jungle can be heard the plaintiff calling of a dinosaur. As the PCs get closer, they hear the sounds of loud sibilant yelling and mechanical noises. The activity in question is taking place around a large stone structure in a clearing; it is built into the face of a sharp cliff. A medium size sauropod dinosaur is lashed by ropes to the huge round portal of the structure. Fifteen lizardmen (AC 5, HD 2+1, hp 17, 15, 14, 14, 13, 12, 11, 11, 10, 9, 9, 8, 6, 5, 4, MV 60' (20') In water: 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F2, ML 12, Al N) are busy in the area. Some whip the dinosaur with ropes and yell, driving it to pull on the ropes and try to open the portal. Occasionally one or more ropes break. Others heave against long wooden tree-trunks they are using as pry-bars, trying to help it. If the PCs scout the area out, they will find 6 more lizardmen (AC 5, HD 2+1, hp 12, 11, 11, 10, 9, 9, MV 60' (20') In water: 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F2, ML 12, Al N) at a pool, catching fish, turtle and crayfish. Unless dealt with beforehand, these will arrive 1d6 rounds after the main fight starts, after the leader of the other group blows its horn. If the PCs attack or approach them, the lizardmen marshal their forces and attack them with flint-headed spears and hand axes. One blows a brass horn, trying to attract those at the pool. The lizardmen have various gold (9 x 100 g.p. value) and silver necklaces (6 x 50 g.p. value). One wears two elaborate wrist-guards of intertwining gold and silver; when they are removed the creature's muscles seem to atrophy a slight amount. These are wrist bands of strength; when first worn, the user suffers disorientation and nausea for 1d6 turns (10-60
1 Cult scout leader (AC 5 (4 with shield), Level 4 Fighter, hp 23, MV 60' (20'), TH0 17, #A 1 weapon, D 1-8 sword +2 for strength, ML 9, Al C) cyclopean amulet with red gem worth 250 g.p. (150 g.p. gem and 100 g.p. collector's value.) plus 100 g.p., 100 s.p. and 100 c.p. 1 lieutenant (AC 5 (4 with shield), Level 3 Fighter, hp 13, MV 60' (20'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-8 sword, ML 9, Al C), silver amulet with gem for eye worth 100 g.p. plus 50 g.p. 8 fighters (AC 5 (4 with shield), Level 2 Fighter, hp 7, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4, MV 60' (20'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-8 sword, ML 9, Al C) bronze amulets (worth about 5 g.p. each to a collector) and 25 g.p. each 10 giant kangaroos (AC 7, HD 3, hp 22, 18, 18, 18, 16, 16, 14, 14, 12, 12, MV 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 clawed kick, D 1-10, ML 9, Al N)
20. LIZARD LAKE. TEMPLE scenario.
See
the
CYCLOPS
21. GREAT IRON MACHINE. The ground shakes more and more violently to the rhythm of titanic feet. The sound of trees being smashed to
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minutes), but then recovers and is slightly stronger (they gain 1 point of strength.) During or after the fight the sauropod turns to flee and in doing so pulls the stone door sideways, opening it several feet. Inside is a large tomb. The front chamber is lit by two ornately worked brass poles on stands with continual light cast on top (weight 1000 coins, value 100 g.p. for the poles alone, and more if the spells are intact). It is also trapped. Three pressure plates almost guarantee someone will step on one unless they are extremely careful (or very lucky). The trap floods both the entrance hall and this room with a sudden blast of gases from dozens of holes: the gas would (at one time) have been ignited by torches in holders on the wall. If the party is using lanterns, torches, candles or other open flames for light, they ignite the gas. It erupts in a titanic blast and cloud of black smoke, hurling people around (those in the entrance hall are blown out for example). Damage is 3d6 (3-18) points per person (save versus dragon breath for half) and a save versus poison/disease is needed to avoid being deafened and stunned for 1d6 turns (10 - 60 minutes.) Strong wooden doors separate the trapped chamber from the next chamber; they are bolted shut from the outside. This is a vestibule with several stoppered vases, each beautifully painted with scenes that include cyclops. They contain grain, bread, dried meat, strong wine, and a spectre (AC 2, HD 6, hp 29, MV 150' (50') Fly 300' (100'), TH0 14, #A 1 touch + special, D 1-8 + 2 level drain, S F6, ML 11, Al C) that comes pouring out like a hissing cloud to attack. The final chamber features a huge stone sarcophagus some 25 feet long. Inside is the mummified body of a cyclops. Three large brass bowls with lids stand on bronze tripods at the far end of the sarcophagus. One holds 1,000 g.p., the next 1,000 s.p. and the third 1,000 e.p. A small wooden casket under one arm of the cyclops is made of teak and sprinkled with what looks like gems at first glance (they are made of various colors of glass.) Inside are five bottles containing potions: growth, gaseous form, control plants and 2 healing potions. Six arrows +1 are hung on a wall in a circular pattern. The corpse wears a necklace with gems worth 2,000 g.p. and a ring worth 500 g.p. on each finger.
24. LAKE. 25. GOLD MINING. As the PCs cross a small stream the glint of gold attracts all eyes. They can pick up 100 g.p. of golden nuggets in about an hour. If they move downstream they can find more nuggets but they peter off and stop (another 100 g.p. can be collected in 2 hours). Going upstream they can follow the trail for 4 hours (and collect 100 g.p. per hour) until they come to a waterfall. If they pan and mine the area: it takes 8 man hours to recover 10 g.p. per hour per PC until a total of 1600 g.p. of nuggets and dust has been recovered. 26. MOSQUITO ATTACK. The high pitched whining of their wings warns the party one round in advance: a swarm of giant mosquitoes fly out of a brushy cane field to attack. There are no less than 7 to 12 (1d6+6) mosquitoes per living creature in the party; each set attacks an individual. 1d6+6 Giant Mosquitoes per PC (AC 9, HD 1/2, hp 2 each, MV 150' (50'), TH0 19, #A 1 bite, D 1-2 + blood drain per round, S NM, ML 7, Al N)
27. Valley Of the Peoples . The idea would be a valley where humans begin at a stone age level of culture and technology; traveling up it they increase into a bronze and then steel age. Neolithic Society. As the PCs travel through this region they will encounter a band of savage warriors in hides carrying flint tipped spears and axes, and carrying shields. Some have atlatls and some have ropes for lassoing. These people will not attack the party (unless attacked) but will insist they visit the king of their peoples to pay homage and learn of the local customs. If the party attacks this band, they will be marked as hostile and dangerous and patrols will be sent to keep them under watch as long as they remain in the region and if possible capture or kill them. These stone-age people have formed a city resting against the stone cliffs of a broken area. They have a number of heavy log homes as well as stone walled structures including a defensive wall. They know of the Pool of Life and can provide general directions to it's locations. If befriended, they can also offer aide: 1d6 potions of healing and 1d4 potions of heroism made from rare fruit and herbs that have to be laboriously processed.
23. [Left open for expansion]
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Their main treasure is a bag of very colorful exotic feathers weighing 200 coins which various traders (including natives on Snakeline Island) will pay 1,000 g.p. for to make head dresses and fancy feather-boas.
Bronze Age Society. These humans have developed into a bronze age society. The Pool of Life. The source of abundant local life, it heals all wounds, poisons and diseases when someone bathes in it, and restores a year of life if any are lost to unnatural aging. The water is drinkable but has no special properties if removed.
29. TURTLE FOLK. The sound of a vehicle moving through the woods comes to the PCs. A strange, large wooden vehicle much bigger than most wagons appears, being pulled by what appears to be a wallaby (AC 5, HD 9, hp 40, MV 120' (40'), TH0 12, #A 1 bite/2 claws or trample, D 1-12/1-8/1-8 or 3-30, S F 5, ML 8, Al N) the size of an elephant. The vehicle creeks down a slope and into a valley, where it stops. A door opens and out steps what appear to be short people in armor. These are turtlefolk (AC 3 for shell, HD 2, MV 60' (20') maximum, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D by weapon+1 for strength, S F2, ML 9, Al N). There are 24 full grown males and females, and 6 leaders (AC 1 for shell, HD 4, MV 60' (20') maximum, TH0 16, #A 1 weapon, D by weapon+2 for strength, S F4, ML 9, Al N). They look like semi-human turtles walking upright on stumpy legs and use their short, big-fingered arms to manipulate objects. Their shell provides them the equivalent to plate armor or better. They tend to be slow and tedious, but strong. This particular band travel and trade, hunting and living off the land. They are not violent unless attacked. They will gladly parlay with hospitable PCs, even sharing a camp. They have crossbows and bolts tipped with bronze, as well as a selection of bronze weapons (axes, maces, hammers, flails and a few swords.)
28. PYGMY CANNIBALS. A swarm of small, gnarly pygmy's attack the party. They wield a mixture of weapons including small bows, sings, and atlatls. 12 pygmys (AC 9, HD 1/2, hp 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D By weapon type, S NM, ML 6, Al Varies - usually L) with small bows (range 30/60/90 damage 1d4), and stone-headed hatchets (damage 1d4) 12 pygmys (AC 9, HD 1/2, hp 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D By weapon type, S NM, ML 6, Al Varies - usually L) with slings (range 30/60/120 damage 1d3 due to their small size), and stone-headed clubs (damage 1d3) 12 pygmys (AC 9, HD 1/2, hp 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D By weapon type, S NM, ML 6, Al Varies - usually L) with atlatls (range 20/40/80 damage 1d4), and spiked clubs (damage 1d3) Each pygmy has 30 g.p. in coins on a necklace. They have a totem pole carved for worshiping festooned with 100 p.p. and 500 g.p.
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Part V : Lizard Lake Island
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36
Base Rate Movement Points
This scenario designed with the idea that the PCs will put some effort getting to it, including encounters which may not net them much treasure. If plucked out of the module and ran by itself, the magic and monetary rewards might be a bit too much. Clues scattered about the module will lead PCs to the Lizard Lake, which itself is atop a high plateau on the North Dreaded Island. They may even find it by chance. In the lake is an island (see the maps above.) The PCs will need a boat or other craft to access it. The solemn ringing of what must be a massive bell or gong will sound every 3 hours, heard when the PCs enter the hex or get close to the lake. They can follow the sound across the lake; once they reach the island they can follow it through the trees and hills to the top of the south hill. See #4 on the map. Once they arrive at the island, they can land anywhere. There are some rough areas, but landing sites are common. The DM can always place a few interesting ruins or encounters in places to reward players who enjoy exploration. There are two main hills, both flat topped. On the south hill is a large pool of water where the bell and temple are.
30' 60' 90' 120' 150' 180' 210' 240'
7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60
The following table gives the cost per hex. Terrain City, clear, grassland, trail Broken, desert, forest, hills Jungle, mountains, swamp Road
Point Cost 1 1.5 2 2/3 (2 every 3 hexes)
They can then estimate the time needed to move from place to place. Ideas for encounters and notes. 1. OLD DOCKS. Concrete or stone docks are here, with few other details. Boats can be tied up. 2. Several wild hunting dogs (AC 7, HD 1, hp 6, 5, 4, 3, 3, MV 180' (60'), TH0 19, #A 1 bite, D 16, S F1, ML 8 (6), Al N) will attempt to take any pack animals and may even attack lone PCs or members of their party.
VISIBILITY: The PCs can see across the grasslands. Only the trees, broken lands and hillsides sloping up in front of them will block their view. The player's map shows in general what they might easily see when circling the island.
3. Giant Scorpions (AC 2, HD 4, MV 150' (50'), TH0 16, #A 2 claws/1 sting, D 1-10/1-10/1-4 + poison, S F2, ML 11, Al C) inhabit the broken, rocky areas, trundling forth with pincers raised in hunger.
MOVEMENT: The island map has a scale of 1/10 mile per hex. The map is provided for people who enjoy exploring and DMs who might have something interesting in mind, not to waste time tediously exploring and mapping it. Barring truly odd circumstances, It should not take the PCs longer than a day or so to explore it and find important details. Even quicker if they follow the sound of the bell (an hour or two perhaps.) Only encounters would slow them down. If the DM wants to keep a strict track of time, they can look up the character's movement points per hour on the following table:
4. BELL, STEPS, TEMPLE ENTRANCE. The bell and it's clockwork device is here. The bell is a huge bronze creation being struck by a clockwork device of extreme cunning created by some ancient race. It is placed on a large stone base on a pinnacle to allow it's tones to waft for miles. Every 7th day of the week this pool drains, revealing the entrance to the cyclops temple below. The exact date is not important; the DM can choose one or decide it empties the day the PCs arrive. There are several sets of wide, strong stone steps leading down some 100' to the temple entrance (50' down to the normal level of the pool). When full, the pool is about 50' deep at the temple entrance, but can be 200' to 300' deep in the other
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areas. The pool remains drained for a full day and then refills in about an hour or less. The water is not necessarily a major hindrance, just a nuisance. The PCs can easily swim back and forth between the temple and lake top. The entranceway of the temple is protected by a magic barrier that keeps out water and prevents flooding. If the PCs have an easy time in the temple and feel let let, it might help to have a band of cultist scouts arriving to report to their superiors, perhaps even setting an ambush outside:
Fighter, hp 7, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4, MV 60' (20'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-8 sword, ML 9, Al C) bronze amulets (worth about 5 g.p. each to a collector) and 25 g.p. each 10 giant kangaroos (AC 7, HD 3, hp 22, 18, 18, 18, 16, 16, 14, 14, 12, 12, MV 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 clawed kick, D 1-10, ML 9, Al N)
5. LONE SPIT. Isolated bit of land. 6. BAY. Possible landing point and boat harbor. Pulled up here are six large canoes. Guarding them in tents along the shore are eight cultist fighters (AC 5 (4 with shield), Level 2 Fighter, hp 15, 13, 12, 11, 8, 7, 6, 6, MV 60' (20'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-8 sword, ML 9, Al C) bronze amulets (worth about 5 g.p. each to a collector) and 25 g.p. each in pouches.
1 Cult scout leader (AC 5 (4 with shield), Level 4 Fighter, hp 23, MV 60' (20'), TH0 17, #A 1 weapon, D 1-8 sword +2 for strength, ML 9, Al C) cyclopean amulet with red gem worth 250 g.p. (150 g.p. gem and 100 g.p. collector's value.) plus 100 g.p., 100 s.p. and 100 c.p. 1 lieutenant (AC 5 (4 with shield), Level 3 Fighter, hp 13, MV 60' (20'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-8 sword, ML 9, Al C), silver amulet with gem for eye worth 100 g.p. plus 50 g.p.
7. BAY. Possible landing point and boat harbor. 8. BAY. Possible landing point and boat harbor.
8 fighters (AC 5 (4 with shield), Level 2
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to room 3 to the north and 4 to the south. On the far eastern wall is a set of massive solid bronze doors 20' wide and 30' high. On the north wall towards the east end is another set of door, as tall and wide by not as heavy. On the south wall towards the east end is a narrower brass door some 10' wide and 30' high. Over the eastern doors is an alcove hidden behind a linen curtain painted like the wall, behind which a guard is on duty, spying through small holes.
Cyclops Temple Level One 1. DEMONIC ENTRYWAY. This is a massive entranceway 160' wide and 50' high, going back some 120' as shown on the map. The cliff face over the entranceway and to each side has been carved into florid demonic shapes and faces for about 10' (3 meters). The main entryway is 40' high. Each 10' section has an iron gate pivoted in the center that can be swung shut; heavy iron rings can then be locked to each end of the gates to hold them together and form a barrier. Thick stone pillars support the roof as shown on the map. Two 40' high statues of cyclops flank the "landing". The guards lounge in the shade of colonnaded benches and resting areas to one side. These are bugbears and gnolls:
1 convert of evil (AC 7 (6 with shield), HD 1, hp 5, MV 90' (30'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-6, S F1, ML 7, Al C) If he sees infidels coming down the hall, he will pull levers to activate the traps shown on the map (each trap affects a 10 x 40 foot area from floor to ceiling). He then gathers other converts to attack. His face is terribly scarred and mutilated as a sign of devotion. He wields a sickle sword [short sword], wears black padded cloth [leather] armor and carries a shield, and has a bronze symbol of evil featuring a cyclopean eye (weight 3 coins, value 15 gp to a collector) on a simple black cloth thong around her neck.
3 bugbears (AC 5, HD 3+1, hp 15, 14, 11, MV 90' (30'), TH0 16, #A 1 weapon, D 2-8 or by weapon +1, S F3, ML 9, Al C) 6 gnolls (AC 5, HD 2, hp 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, MV 90' (30'), TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D 2-11 (by weapon +1), S F2, ML 8, Al C)
t1. A blast of fiery gas erupts from the side. Everyone in the square is attacked as if by a 2 hit die monster and takes 1d8 points of damage if hit.
6 hyenas [wolf statistics] (AC 7, HD 2+2, hp 12, 10, 8, 8, 6, 4, MV 180' (60'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite, D 1-6, S F1, ML 8 (6), Al N)
t2. The ceiling opens up suddenly and scorpions shower down. These little beasties are numerous but individually not deadly: once on the floor they can easily be crushed underfoot at no risk. Each person in the square will attacked by 1d6 scorpions (less than 1 hit die monster); if stung they take minimal damage but must make a saving throw versus poison or be seriously ill for 1d6 hours. If poisoned more than once, they must save versus poison or collapse into a coma for 2d6 hours; another save is required to avoid death at the end of the coma.
They wear padded cloth (leather) armor, carrying wicked looking spears with gleaming bronze heads, with bronze-headed hand axes or sickle swords on their belts. They are holding the leashes to hyenas, which they brought with them from their homeland. Each monster has a hide pouch tied to a simple rope belt: bugbears have 30 g.p. and 30 s.p., while gnolls have 20 g.p. and 20 s.p. (total 210 g.p. and 210 s.p.) The largest bugbear wears golden arm bands worth 100 g.p. each (10 g.p. for gold and 90 g.p. for collector's value each.) Most of the coins are hexagonal with a hole in the center for stringing and hail from distant desert lands; they are pure enough for merchants to accept them as-is for local currency.
t3. A spray of clear fluid showers from small holes in the wall, drenching everyone in the square from head to foot. It starts dramatic but ends with a pathetic squeak. If any characters have extensive head cover that might shield their face, make a hit roll by a 3rd level monster
2. MAIN FOYER. This 40' high and 140' long hallway has huge columns along each wall supporting the ceiling. An open arch allows access
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(TH0 17) to see if liquids get through vision slits. Characters have 20 seconds to thoroughly wash their eyes with water; if they do not, their eyes will begin to burn with excruciating pain and they will go blind; those who make a saving throw versus poison will be blind for 1d6 turns (10 - 60 minutes); those who fail will be blinded for 1d6 (1-6) hours.
He is not telling the truth. He is a cleric of evil: 1 cleric of evil (AC 9, Level 6 Cleric, hp 26, MV 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A unarmed, D 1-2, S C6, ML 8, Al C) Spells (2, 2, 1, 1): 1st level - cause light wounds, fear 2nd level - snake charm, hold person 3rd level - remove curse 4th level - neutralize poison
3. WAITING ROOM. Several large benches (6' high, 20' long, 2' wide) and tables (10' high, 40' long, 10' wide) carved from marble line this room.
Caught meditating before he could reach his own room, this leader of the temple ducked back into this chamber, quickly beat himself with one of the scourges on the wall, stuffed his robes into the sacrificial fire pit, and chained himself to the floor. Inside the robe are twenty golden rings each set with a gem (25 g.p. value each; 1 g.p. for the gold of the ring), three lengths of odd silken cloth (he used them to tie his beard up in knots) worth 5 g.p. each or less, and a purse with 10 p.p. and 25 g.p. Plus a soft hand towel and bar of soap (of soap does not exist in the Game Master's game, then a packet of incense). He planned on bathing after meditating. A careful examination will reveal that none of the welts on his body are old, and the few scars he has are old and seem to be from fighting. Likewise, he has the physique of someone who wears armor and wields weapons. If his deception is not detected, he will be willing to wear armor and carry any weapon (but he will try to grab a mace, flail, hammer or other weapon instead of attacking with any blade). At the first chance he will lay into the party from surprise, using his cause light wounds spells if he is not given a weapon or is given a sharp weapon and cannot get a better one.
4. SNAKES. Stone steps in the floor go down 10' into a depression. The floor of the depression is littered by sundry snakes (about 30 or so). From the feces on the floor it can be deduced that these snakes have been brought here recently (within months) and the area is being policed by someone. These snakes are not dangerous unless the players have their characters do something silly like strolling into them. Otherwise, the PCs could capture or kill them at leisure. On the south end of the room steps lead back up to a statue of a cyclops goddess. It is painted in gaudy colors and has green glass eyes, but little is of value. 5. OLD MAN. The doors to this room are open. This chamber is dark, lit mainly by a constantly glowing orb (it gives a wavering yellow light) attached to a brass frame over a pit full of old, stinking ash bones. If the orb is removed from the holder, it immediately goes out and becomes completely non-magical. The brass socket is not magical. Sitting cross legged with fingertips touching in meditation is a skinny, haggard old man with dark and bushy eyebrows, beard and hair. He is dressed in a rumpled, simple loin cloth. He breathes hard as if in bad health from abuse, and is covered in fresh welts. His hands are chained to the floor through short manacles which attach to stout iron rings in the floor; the key is hanging on the wall along with a few torture instruments. He does not have any tattoos nor does he have an amulet or other article. He will look startled if approached, uncertain as to his fate. If the party frees him, he will gladly (almost hysterically) begin thanking them for freeing him. He has been a prisoner for weeks, captured and tortured because he was once a high priest in a temple of good. He is not a cleric, he says, just a normal man who had a gift for religion and leadership.
6. BANQUET AND DINING ROOM. A titanic room containing many benches, tables and chairs of heavy wood. Two swinging doors lead out the east wall. Two wooden doors are in the south wall (both open easily.) 7. BEAST MEN. This room has rattan furnishings including a rattan display on one wall of some odd bit of artwork: mostly red depictions of palm trees, cacti and desert flowers. It is the residence of: 3 bugbears (AC 5, HD 3+1, MV 90' (30'), TH0 16, #A 1 weapon, D 2-8 or by weapon +1, S F3,
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Cyclops Temple Level Two
ML 9, Al C)
11. INTERSECTION. This spacious intersection features a vaulted 50' high ceiling; arches support each entryway. Standing against each wall is a iron stand with a brazier on top. A continual light spell is cast on each. Each weighs about 100 pounds (1,000 coins). Be sure to read entry #13 where guards are lounging bored and out of the way.
3 gnolls (AC 5, HD 2, MV 90' (30'), TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D 2-11 (by weapon +1), S F2, ML 8, Al C) The gnolls cackles in glee during combat, throwing the hand axes stuffed into their belts (if engaged at a distance); otherwise they use pole arms leaning on the wall. The monsters all wear padded cloth [leather armor], and each has a purse with 20 g.p. and 30 s.p (120 g.p. and 180 s.p. total). If somehow engaged in conversation, their accent reveals that they hail from a distant land of deserts and pyramids.
12. LIBRARY. Two frames with many small square spaces made from human bones line the walls (one west, one east). These holes are littered with scrolls tied shut with cloth; this is a collection of religious history, prayers, tales and devotional tracts devoted to many subjects, especially evil. They have little value beyond collectors: there are about 42 - 72 (6d6 + 36) scrolls worth 5 g.p. each from a collector. In the east wall is a cleverly hidden section that opens into a 1' x 1' x 1' hiding place containing two clerical scrolls: cure light wounds and protection from evil.
8. BARREL ROOM. This long, high room is lined by plain, stout wooden racks. Various bags of goods are stacked between the racks; most contain food. In the racks are twenty stout, old barrels containing various products. Ten of them (about 50 gallon capacity each, but not waterproof) sit upright and have rope, dry goods, food, etc. About 10 (about 100 gallon capacity each) are placed on the side like wine barrels: five hold water, three ale, one common wine and one beer.
13. CONVERTS OF EVIL. Ten converts of evil worship and wait in this room, grabbing weapons to attack intruders or respond to alert. Be sure to read room #15 where two harem guards stand watch and could see anyone opening the east door (which is not locked) or converts fleeing in panic from a fight.
9. STEAM BATH. This large room is lit by a glowing orb in the ceiling (tampering with it causes the light in it to go out and destroys its magic.) It has benches and a 10' deep pool of clear, steaming water. Two sets of stone steps go down into the pool. The room is full of steam. The pool is fed by a natural hot spring that keeps the water hot year round. A large table against the east wall holds vases of oil and large tubs.
10 converts of evil (AC 7 (6 with shield), HD 1, hp 7, 6, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, MV 90' (30'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-6, S F1, ML 7, Al C) Each carries a sickle sword of bronze (short sword), shield, and wears padded cloth [leather] armor. Each wears a small golden symbol of evil featuring a cyclopean eye (weight 3 coins, value 15 gp to a collector) on a simple black cloth thong around their neck. Their faces are scarred and disfigured as a sign of devotion.
10. STAIRS DOWN: Three sets of stone steps lead down into the darkness below. The center set is 20' wide and the flanking sets 10' wide. Marble columns support the ceiling and an empty bronze brazier stands in the center of each 10' section going down. They open up into the landing of the lower temple vestibule. There is a 10' wide secret door in the north wall that opens (just a push causes it to pop open) into a tight cubicle with a heavy iron ladder. Climbing it gives access to a small square room over the door, where the convert described in room #2 keeps watch over the main foyer and can pull levers to cause traps to go off.
14. BUNK ROOM. The heavy door to this room is shut but not locked. It features three twin sets of bunk beds (wood with simple fiber filled mattresses and plain cloth sheets), and two low wooden tables, and a spray of common pillows and pallets on the floors. A glowing yellow orb set in a brass frame in the center of the vaulted ceiling provides light (if removed, it goes out and becomes nonmagical). A bucket contains water, while a bundle of
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cloth contains bread, meat and cheeses (about 1d6 days rations worth.)
Opening the chest without muttering the words Nox Barem releases a magic rune inscribed in the lid, blasting everyone within twenty feet for 2d6 (212) hit points damage (save versus spells for half damage), making enough noise to alert anyone within a hundred feet. Inside is a golden holy symbol worth 350 g.p. (10 coins weight, 10 g.p. worth of gold, 90 g.p. collector's value) with small red rubies (10 total, each worth 25 g.p.), and a pile of coins of so many different makes that they have to be from the collection box of some rural church that services a trade town: 1,000 c.p., 1,200 s.p., 300 g.p. and 36 p.p. A small glass bottle holds a potion of healing.
15 HAREM. The two doors to this room are guarded by brawny humans (+2 damage and to hit for strength) carrying scimitars (normal swords) and wearing pantaloons and turbans. They are eunuchs and mute. Each has two golden arm bands worth 50 g.p. each (total value 200 g.p.) 2 harem guards (AC 7 (dexterity bonus of 2), Level 3 Fighter, hp 16, 15, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1 sword, D 3-10 (1d8+2 for strength), S F3, ML 8, Al C) This room smells of perfume and incense. inside, lounging on many satin pillows and throws are five women of varying appearances, mostly oriental in some way, with dark skin common. Some are pretty, some are not, and all wear veils, loose clothing, and simple shoes. They have many brass bangles and ear rings but no real jewelry. This is the harem of the temple priest. None of the women are evil. While not forced to be his wife by threat, most were coerced through tradition and family obligations, and are not happy about it. They would be glad of any chance to be free and go about their own life. Most would return to their homeland, although one or two might be willing to accompany the party in search of adventure.
17. MAIN TEMPLE. This long hall has a 50' ceiling and heavy columns. On the east end is a statue of a cyclops god on a dais reached by 15' high steps (the eye appears to be painted blood red but under the paint is a ruby gem worth 500 g.p.) On the south wall is a large curtain of red silk embroidered with gold thread (weight 500 coins; value 1000 g.p.) depicting a cyclops god reigning in terror over the realms of man, elf, dwarf and other civilized peoples. Behind it is a set of steel gates that are currently down (see # 18). The hallway it leads into has a 50' high ceiling. 18. NICHE IN MAIN TEMPLE: This niche contains a sacrificial altar that can be moved around. It also contains a purple and red colored tapestry behind which is a lever that lowers and raises the steel gate in the south wall of the temple (see #17.) Pushing it up raises the gate; pulling it down lowers it. It is currently down and the gates are down. Sitting to one side of the sacrificial altar is a table, on which the skull and jaw bone of a human male sit atop a short wooden block (with enough room for the gaping jaw to move). It is quiet ancient and has been lacquered with black and red colors. A faint green gem worth about 100 gold coins is inset in a thin golden band inlaid in the bone (there is very little bone). The teeth have been replaced by ivory. If the player characters approach it, the skull's eyes will glow yellow and the mouth will snap up. An old, solemn human voice will ask, "And who are you?" The skull will interrogate the adventurers if they are willing, asking brief, unemotional questions which seem reasonable: the questions revolve around their aims and goals. If the players destroy the skull, nothing special
16. HIGH PRIESTS' ROOM. Lushly furnished: desks, tables, chairs and such are made of a dark, luxurious black wood with elaborate gold edging. Includes a large desk with a high backed chair with wide swept curving arms and a silk red pillow for seat, two sitting chairs less gaudy but just as beautiful, a cot with a soft mattress and red silk sheets and linen covers, a down filled pillow. A mace +2 hangs on the wall, with a shield +1 and plate mail +1. A cloak covers the plate mail and hanging from the iron peg is a leather pouch with a key (it fits the lock in the chest). An elaborately carved chest sits to one side, made of black wood with a gold trim. It is locked (the key is in the purse under the cloak). There is a poison needle in the lid at each end where most people would grip to lift; they can be found easily by rubbing a wad of cotton or wool or other fiber over the edge and easily disarmed by bashing them with a hammer or washing the poison off. Failure to do so means a save versus poison must be made or death occurs to anyone casually opening the box.
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will happen. It will shatter easily under any blow. Removing the gem or otherwise tampering with it destroys the magic associated with the skull. If they keep it and take it with them, it's presence will allow the high priests of evil to track them and seek revenge. The priests must be able to look out the eyes and listen with invisible ears to track them; if it is boxed up, or covered, it cannot be used for tracking. Only the most knowledgeable sages and wizards in large cities will be able to identify it in any form: and even then they can only tell that a magic enchantment has been placed permanently on it. The enchantment allows two way communications by voice and vision over great distances. The exact enchantment is not known (it is kept secret by the secret society). It is obvious that the enchantment took a great deal of money and time to invoke; such items are rare and whoever is using it must be powerful.
stabbed (save versus poison or die). 3 gems worth 250 g.p. each. Spells (2, 2, 1): 1st level - shield, light 2nd level - web, detect invisible 3rd level - dispel magic
5 converts of evil (AC 5, Level 2 fighters, hp 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, MV 90' (30'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon (battle axe), D 1-8, S F2, ML 8, Al C) Possessions: chain mail, and battle ax (a 2handed weapon in the rules being used), 50 g.p. each. A lever is set on the north corner of the entryway of this room. Pushing it up raises the gate mentioned in room #17; pulling it down lowers it. If the PCs raised the grate to enter, it is now up. This room has 30' high vaulted ceilings. Against the west wall is a stone platform reached by three 5' stone steps. Against the wall itself is a grand map of the islands carved in stone; while general details are accurate (volcanoes, areas of jungle, major rivers, etc.), it does not have fine details that could really help explorers. In the region that should be the lizard lake is a circular shape with a ring around it, and a central eye in the center. If the PCs spend a lot of time looking it over, the center of the map will suddenly slide forward, then slide sideways to the north far enough to reveal a 20' wide opening in the wall. If they leave in disinterest they will hear the loud booming of it opening behind them when they reach the iron gates to the north. A dwarf or such might note that the center section is not solid and is built to move about which time it will open. Seven snakemen (AC 6 (tough, scaly hide and shield), HD 1+1, hp 9, 8, 7, 7, 6, 5, 4, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 16 or by spear, S F1, ML 7, AL C) come sliding out of the darkness, holding spears and hissing in anger. A few rounds (1d6+2) later six more snakemen (AC 6 (tough, scaly hide and shield), HD 1+1, hp 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 16 or by spear, S F1, ML 7, AL C) will appear. Two of these have belt pouches with 100 g.p. in them (200 g.p. total). Behind them is a long winding set of stone steps 30' high and 20' wide that goes down 100' into the dark and ends at room #31 on level three.
19. MAP ROOM. As the party approaches this room, they will encounter a small party of people leaving it to investigate strange noises in the temple (or having finished their own research for the day, if the PCs are being careful.) They will accost the party and generally attack or try to capture them. 1 evil cleric (AC 5 (4 with shield), Level 6 Cleric, hp 24, MV 90' (30'), TH0 17, #A 1 weapon, D 1-6, S C6, ML 7, Al C, S 15 (+1), I 13, W 15 (+1), D 12, Co 10, CH 18 (+3) Possessions: chain mail, shield, mace (with continual light cast on it), 3 vials holy water, holy symbol, 300 g.p. and 50 p.p. in a pouch. Spells (2, 2, 1, 1): 1st level - cure light wounds, fear 2nd level - silence 15' radius, resist fire 3rd level - cure disease 4th level - cure serious wounds 1 evil magic user (AC 6, Level 6 magic user, hp 11, MV 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 weapon, D 14, S M6, ML 7, Al C, S 11, I 16 (+2), W 12, D 16 (+2), Co 12, CH 11) Possessions: robes, 1 normal dagger with continual light cast on it, 2 silver daggers, ring of protection +1, wand of secret door detection (4 charges.) She has her spell book in a shoulder satchel with the spells she has memorize. The latch is trapped with a needle such that anyone casually opening it will be
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AS A NOTE: the snakemen in this scenario are painted with decorative shapes in various shades of red and green. ANOTHER NOTE: This room once contained the large stone portal found on the lower levels. The snake people moved it, with the aide of powerful magic users not among them in this module.
snapping at a touch. Atop the bar is a scattering of coins, mostly gold. These are actual yellow mold (AC Can always be hit, HD 2, hp 16, MV 0, TH0 18, #A Spores, D 1-6 + special, S F 2, ML n/a, Al N) growing on copper coins (about 2d6+12 coins). Behind the bar are a number of brown bottles about three times as large as most normal bottles (they were made for giants). Many are broken. One contains good wine and two contain ale. A third contains a green slime (AC Can always be hit, HD 2, hp 4, MV 3' (1'), TH0 18, #A 1, D turns to slime in 1-4 rounds after 6 rounds, S F 1, ML 12, Al N).
20 - 31. [all left open for expansion]
Cyclops Temple Level Three This area is not lit unless noted. There is a 1 in 6 chance per turn (ten minutes) of encountering a group of 1-6 (1d6) snakemen HD 1+1, hp 7, 6, 5, 4, 4, 3, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 16 or by spear, S F1, ML 7, AL C) around on business. There should only be one or two such encounters after which they stop occurring.
34. VAULTED INTERSECTION. This intersection is vaulted and the ceiling is covered in cobwebs. Just in front of it to the east is a dead giant tarantella spider, gored by snakeman spears. A second giant tarantella spider (AC 5, HD 4*, hp 27, MV 120' (40') In Web: No webs, TH0 16, #A 1 bite, D 1-8 + poison, S F 2, ML 8, Al N) lurks in the mass of webs overhead, waiting to drop down on individuals.
31. STAIRS FROM LEVEL TWO. The stairway from room #19 on level two ends here, landing in the north of the room. The east wall is for all purposes solid; a detect magic spell will reveal that the wall that this room shares with room #48 is magical, but not it's purpose. This room has a 40' high vaulted ceiling. The hallway going west and then north is 30' high and about every 30 feet (3 squares) is an arch supporting the ceiling; each side of the archway provides enough space for one person to hide behind it near the wall.
35. HALL OF EVER BURNING FLAMES. There are six alcoves in this hallway, as shown on the map. Each has the 3 foot long (1 meter) stump of a bronze or brass pipe jutting out and up at a 45 degree angle. Each pipe ends in a flame from what appears to be gas. Each flame illuminates a 30' area around it, tinted by it's color. Some areas have an odd tint where the light from different flames overlap. a) The flame from this pipe has a silver tint. Touching it will heal the recipient of 1d6+1 (2-7 hit points damage). Each person can only use this once per day. It does not affect inanimate objects.
32. ROOM. A snakeman (AC 6 (tough, scaly hide and shield), HD 1+1, hp 1 (4 if healed), MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 1-6 or by spear, S F1, ML 7, AL C) lies on a cot in this cluttered room, gasping from poison, two puncture marks on it's shoulder. Two others (AC 6 (tough, scaly hide and shield), HD 1+1, hp 5, 4, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 1-6 or by spear, S F1, ML 7, AL C) watch over it. The room is cluttered like a strange closet with large tables, beds, and such. In one dresser is a long lost, dusty pouch with 500 g.p. and a gem worth 250 g.p.
b) This flame is tinted a sickly green. Any living being touching it will be afflicted by green slime. It does not affect inanimate objects. c) This flame is almost translucent. Anyone touching it will not be burned, but will turn invisible for 1d6 turns (10 - 60 minutes). After one person had touched it, it turns a solid "black" color and will not bestow invisibility for another three hours, at which point it will turn almost translucent again.
33. ROOM. A room cluttered with round tables and chairs and a bar in back. Water drips slowly from the ceiling. In the humid environment, the wooden furniture is all rotten and prone to
d) This flame as a golden metallic tint. Any metal such as silver or copper inserted into it will turn to pure gold and remain so; it can only convert 100 g.p. of metal per day. It has no affect of living
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creatures or other metals, although it might change hair or skin color if said things are exposed long enough (DM's discretion).
not spring it (their weight is usually spread over a wider area) unless they "stand" right on it or several group up atop it. The south trap is a set of spikes built into the ceiling (everyone within the square is attacked by a 6 hit die creature - TH0 14 - and takes 3d6 (3-18) damage if hit.) Pushing on the wall beside it can trigger it, as can stepping on the square under it with more than 50 pounds weight.
e) A liquid, blue bubbling flame comes from this pipe. Anyone touching it can breath and move in water as if they were a fish for 1d6+1 (2-7) days. Each person only benefits from it once per month. f) This flame is yellow and hot. It looks like a natural gas outlet burning - which it is. The DM might give someone who unwisely samples it without precautions 1d4 (1-4) or so hit points of damage (more if they are very foolish; less if they are wise), with a save versus dragon breath for half damage.
41. ROOM. Empty. 42. STAIRS DOWN. This set of stairs goes down some 100 feet - or so it seems. They actually come out in room #46 on the same level; each time a party goes down them, roll 1d6, on 1-3 they exit at the set of stairs marked "a" and on 4-6 they exit at "b". They are subtly built with an illusion that prevents most people from detecting the change.
36. ILLUSIONARY WALLS ROOM. When the PCs get near this room, three snakemen (AC 6 (tough, scaly hide and shield), HD 1+1, hp 8, 6, 4, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 1-6 or by spear, S F1, ML 7, AL C) come through the center section of the north wall; it looks like they can slither through solid stone. If they detect the PCs they will hiss, calling the other 6 in room #49. The north wall of this room appears solid. The sections marked with "I" between this room and room #49 are permanent illusions. Whether or not they can be dispelled is up to the DM. They might be detected by magic or a saving throw versus spells, but do not go away. Anyone who does not disbelieve them must close their eyes and walk forward through them to get past. The snakepeople do not seem to be effected by this illusion (they are affected by others though). It was made for them by other parties not covered in this module.
43. ROOM WITH DOORS. Ornate, heavy iron doors 30' high block the three entrances from this room to room #44; the center section has two doors, the others one. Approaching the center set will evoke a glowing, red, cyclops head that intones, "What would you do here?" in a loud voice. It will trade questions, wit, insults or whatever it is offered as fodder with someone for 6 rounds (60 seconds). This is intended to alert nearby guards, not serve any other purpose. If the PCs have yet encountered all the wandering snakemen the DM thinks they should, have some come slithering around to check out the noise (see the introduction to the level.) These are heavy security doors built to withstand battering rams. The locks open or close heavy bolts in the frames which extend into the doors. When locked, a door can only be knocked down by great effort. Each door is locked by a very well made lock and each lock is in turn trapped by a poison needle (save versus poison or die). Each door is also trapped: about 10' up on the frame to one side is a cleverly hidden block an inch in diameter which must be pushed in to disarm said trap (it pops out each time the door is shut.) If not pushed in, opening the door releases a sudden jet of gas from a hole in the ceiling under the upper edge of the door top: the gas engulfs a 20' area around the door and explodes when it strikes open flames (torches, lanterns, candles, etc.). Damage is 2-12 (2d6) hit points, with a save versus dragon breath for half damage. If no flames exist, the gas hisses and falls to the ground and
37. ROOM. This room is full of tables, chairs, and benches. 38. HALLWAY. 39. DEAD END. 40. HALLWAY. There are two traps in this hallway. The north trap is a simple if cleverly hidden pit trap 20' deep (2d6 points of damage from falling). It cannot be easily detected by simple means like thumping the floor to check for hollow noises (doing so allows a roll to find traps at best). It springs when a combined total of some 100 pounds is placed on it. Snakepeople generally will
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will dissipate over time (1d6 turns). Each gas trap only works once, but can be refilled. Only the now defunct cyclops owners know where they got the gas from.
intruders; on 4-6 the platform at "d" drops releasing eight hyenas [wolf statistics] (AC 7, HD 2+2, hp, 17, 15, 14, 12, 10, 9, MV 180' (60'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite, D 1-6, S F 1, ML 8 (6), Al N). After that, the other platform drops when the party exits the other stairwell. The only exit is thee trick hall at #47. NOTE: The monsters here are kept in magical suspension until released. They might radiate a slight, dwindling magic aura if the PCs check or have some magic detection spell spell working.
44. CYCLOPEAN STONE TABLET. This room has 50' high vaulted ceilings and is lined (floor, walls, ceiling) with red marble stone. Sprawled in what will likely be shadows behind the columns in the eastern alcove are two giant rattlesnakes (AC 5, HD 4*, hp 23, 21, MV 120' (40'), TH0 16, #A 2 bites, D 1-4 + poison, S F 2, ML 8, Al N). Each has a leather "necklace" with 2 x 100 g.p. gems and 1 x 500 g.p. gem; these are riveted to the snakes scales with one loose area on top that allows a rope to be inserted. (Helping the snakemen handle them.) The north wall features a dais reached by climbing three 5 foot high steps. Atop it sits a huge brazier flanked by two large iron torch holders. The wall behind it features a mural. In the center is a large stone circle about twenty feet (6 meters) in diameter. An outer ring (about 1 foot in breadth) has an array of unusual runes that are magical symbols, not some form of language. The center features a gigantic looming head with a single eye in the center; the eye is made of bright, shining white marble set with an onyx pupil (it has no value.) This is a magic portal created by an ancient cyclops race. Three pieces of the tablet are missing; blank wall is where runic carvings should be. Without these pieces, it will not work. If reassembled, it can still only be operated with the correct spell and ritual, which can only be learned by traveling to a distant land and seeking a learned sage's help. The learning process would take at least a month once said sage is discovered and agrees to teach it. It's function can vary a bit (different spells and objects might create different effects), but it's main intent is to travel to specific places, which the DM will have to decide on. A villain, for example, might summon a terrible demon here by opening a route to the nether regions and working vile magic.
47. FALSE DOOR TRICK. At the end of this hallway is a false door with a latch. The moment someone lifts the latch, everyone in the hall up to where it meets room #46 is teleported to room #48 and dropped into the water there. This is the only exit from this area, other than by digging one's way out or some means of magic. 48. POOLS. This room has two 20' deep pools of semi-clear, cold water in it, separated by a dry rocky walkway some 10' across and 70' long and perhaps 2 feet over the level of the pools. The ceiling is 30 feet high over the walkway. A set of stone steps emerges from the bottom of pool and enters the hall to the west. If all the light sources a party carries are extinguished, it will be lit by a dim luminescent glow from the water, enough to see and act by but not enough to read by. Arrivals from room #47 are dropped randomly or at the DM's convenience in the squares marked 1 to 6 in the east pool. They are immediately attacked by six giant eels (AC 6, HD 2, hp 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, MV 120' (40'), TH0 20 - HD, #A 1 bite, D 1-6, 1-8 or 1-10, S F1 to F3, ML 8, Al N) kept in suspension by magic until victims are offered. The west pool is occupied by four giant pirahna (AC 6, HD 3+3, hp 22, 20, 15, 12, MV 150' (50'), TH0 16, #A 1 bite, D 1-8, S F 2, ML 7, Al N). At the bottom of this pool is a rusty, useless suit of chain mail, a few very old bones, and a section of old, almost rotten bamboo about a foot in diameter and two foot long. It slides in half at the center to reveal 500 g.p. and a potion of healing. There are also a few eel bones, from one that slithered over the wall separating the pools some time ago. The hallway going west is one-way: creatures can go west and will wind up in room #31 as if there was no wall between it and this room, but they cannot turn around and go east.
45. (left open for expansion) 46. TRICK ROOM. See room #42; this is where the stairwell there actually discharges. The first time a party exits either stairway, roll 1d6: on 1-3 the platform at "c" drops from the ceiling to the floor and releases four lions (AC 6, HD 5, hp 36, 32, 28, 24, MV 150' (50'), TH0 15, #A 2 claws/1 bite, D 2-5/2-5/1-10, S F 3, ML 9, Al N) who attack
49. ROOM. Six snakemen (AC 6 (tough, scaly hide and shield), HD 1+1, hp 8, 7, 6, 5, 5, 4, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or
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bite, D 1-6 or by spear, S F1, ML 7, AL C) are posted to guard this room. (Also read room #36.) Two openings in the wall to the north allow access to two flights of stairs (one east, one west) that go down 10 feet to a landing. The central landing overlooks the pool that is room #50, with a drop of about 30' to the pool. The ceiling of this area remains level with the main room. Three ropes hang over the edge into the pool.
F2, ML 7, AL C). One of them is stooping over to place a huge egg-like object in a muddy area. There are fifteen eggs in this region, all freshly planted. Some 1d6 rounds after the PCs enter the area (regardless of whether they attack, snoop around or whatever), the eggs begin hatching (1d6+1 per round until all are opened). Out of each one pops a small carnivorous dinosaur (AC 7, HD 1, hp 8, 7, 6, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, MV 150' (50'), TH0 19, #A 1 bite, D 1-3, S F1, ML 9, AL N), famished and eager to attack. These creatures are not normal: they were cultured this way by the snakemen and pre-imprinted to not attack them, but will attack humans and humanoids on sight. Sparkling in the wall (which was washed down to make mud) and in the mud around the eggs are 6 gems worth 200 g.p. each and 4 worth 500 g.p. each. A dozen or so crude rope carrying baskets are discarded nearby. From snaky tracks in the mud, it appears more than one trip was made (coming from the exit passage at #54) to deliver the eggs.
50. POOL. A 30' deep pool of cold, somewhat clear water that circulates through streams in the walls of the cave (the openings are too small for anything but small fish, crayfish, etc.) This is in a natural cavern where the walls are uneven. The bottom is a bit sandy in places and muddy in others. Small shrimp or fish can be found. 51. NATURAL CAVERN. There is a short climb from the pool in room #50 to floor of this natural hallway. The roof and walls are uneven; often they arch over in a dome. The floor is usually dry or at best damp sand, rock or earth.
54. PASSAGE OUT. This natural cavern winds for perhaps a mile or so and exits in a secluded place on the main island map, which the DM can pick. In a nearby cove are several canoes and a raft used to transport snakemen and their cultured dinosaur eggs. There may even be several snakemen, although these creatures think in odd ways and posting guards is not always something they consider important.
52. NATURAL CAVERN. A large, spacious natural cavern much like #51. Be sure to read #53 and what the snakemen are doing there. 53. NATURAL CAVERN. Much like room #51 as to environmental details. In the eastern alcove of this chamber there are three snakemen (AC 7 (tough, scaly hide), HD 2+2, hp 14, 13, 12, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 17, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 1-6 or by spear, S
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Part VI : Snakemen The PCs spot a giant snake basking on a large flat rock at a distance in the lush jungle. It rears up, staring at them. A cobra-like hood flares out in fear, then it rises on its tail and slithers off at a fast pace (for a snake), hissing. It has arms and leather straps on which it carries pouches and a hand axe. On one humanoid arm is a spear. It is colored (in paint) various shades of red and green. The PCs have entered the domain of the snake people. This snakeman (AC 7 (tough, scaly hide), HD 1+1 , hp 6, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F1, ML 7, AL C) is a scout for a distant, hostile tribe.
Quick Key to the Pleasure barge 1 and 9 are hatches that allow access to the lower deck via ladders. 10 and 18 are the same thing except they allow access to the main deck. 2. is a main dining and carousing room. 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 are personal quarters for the guests. 5. indicates the base support for the mainmast, which is split but rejoined up top. 11. and 12 are ships stores with locked doors. 13 is stores for the guests featuring fancy wines and fine linens, soaps, etc. 14. and 15 are the galley, with stoves venting out the side. 16. Officer's room. 17. Crews quarters with bunks. Some crew would sleep up top.
A short distance further, they come across two statues of snake people carved from translucent green jade. Each has it's fangs bared. One has crossed arms with a flail and short sword and the other is wielding a staff and wand. One statue has fallen and the other leans, tangled in vines. They straddle a stone paved road leading from a river into the jungle. Tied up to a stone mooring post (it is elaborately carved with jungle motifs) is a fairly large river barge with a square house-like structure on it (the exact dimensions are undecided; the design below with has a 5' per square scale but it could be 10'.) A wooden gangplank has been thrown over one side and rests on the shore; the PCs can move across it to enter the barge.
Blackened pools of blood are scattered on the decks here and there. Several pools are around holes in the wood, as if javelins were jammed through the body that made them. Insects and flies are scattered about feasting on the blood, but not
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thick yet. A single dead human lies sprawled after a fight on the bow near the ladder way. He is dressed in black winding clothing over a bronze scale armor that has the same general weight and protection as chain mail. His neck is swollen grotesquely, and blackened, with two fang-like puncture wounds. Inside the boat are twelve snakemen (AC 7 (tough, scaly hide), HD 1+1, hp 9, 8, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F1, ML 7, AL C) who will burst out of windows and the doors to attack. These are colored (in paint) various shades of green and blue over their natural, muted dull greens (dark on top, light on their "belly"). One cabin was once appointed more elegantly than the others, but anything of value is gone. Some torn bedsheets and mattresses are left, as well as wooden furniture. In one desk is the beginnings of a journal recording the last few days of travel spent searching the river for "...clues to the Cyclops gate." but few other details. It notes distances travelled, a lack of any signs of civilization, and a patient determination to find
something thought to be of great value to someone seeking power. The river barge is not sea worthy enough to travel the ocean alone; it was shipped to the island between two specially made sailing ships which bracketed it somewhat like a catamaran. If exposed to a violent storm and high waves, it will flounder and sink in a matter of a few hours or less (1d6 x 10 minutes). It can sail on rivers and around the coasts under it's own power, provided the crew flees to shelter if a violent storm approaches. It can travel in far shallower waters than most sailing ships of the same general size. (Most sailing vessels have a deep, heavy keel to help them maintain stability in high winds, as opposed to rowboats and river barges which have shallow keels if not flat bottoms to make them easier to oar and maneuver in shallow waters.) The stone highway weaves through the jungle, crossing a ruined bridge where crocodiles lurk and passing several buildings destroyed by age. It arrives at a lost city of fallen walls and buildings overgrown with brush.
51
SNAKE MAN LAIR
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a web. Hanging underneath the first ledge is a giant black widow spider (AC 6, HD 3*, hp 21, MV 60' (20') In Web: 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite, D 2-12 + poison, S F2, ML 8, Al N), who's burrow is behind it. It will try to ambush anyone coming down. In it's small hole of a nest is rubbish including 3 gems worth 50 g.p. each. Atop the third ledge is a holy symbol on a broken chain, a clutch of rotten torches and a flint and steel set (the steel is rusted). The bottom of the shaft is directly above room #2 on the map. It is shut by a rusty, four foot wide round metal grate with square bars about an inch thick and plenty of space to squeeze a hand between them. It hinges on the underside (north) and is latched on the south on the underside. The latch can be reached; it is rusted shut but some hard hammering will free it. The grate will swing down with a loud screech (unless oiled) alerting the guards at #3. There is a fifteen foot drop to the floor.
Snakeman Lair
2. FIRST ROOM. This room features two wooden doors and a short hallway that leads to the guard room (#3) around the corner. 3. GUARDS. These slithery guards will hear any excess noise in room #2 and go investigate (especially if the grate is allowed to squeal open).
Snakeman Lair Level 1 Snake Stairwells: The snake-people do not use high steps like humans. Their "stair wells" are narrow winding tunnels with a rough pebbled surface to aide in traction when coming up. There are no "steps" like humans would use. The ceilings are around 10 to 15 feet high, up to 20' high in the wide hallways. The DM will have to decide what if any lighting is provided inside.
6 snakemen (AC 7 (tough, scaly hide), HD 1+1, hp 7, 7, 6, 6, 3, 3, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F1, ML 7, AL C) Their room features low tables (but no other furniture). In a niche on the north wall is a small golden idol (10 coins weight) with a red gem in the center of the forehead worth 250 g.p. intact (150 g.p. for the gem + 10 g.p. worth gold + 90 g.p. collector's value.)
1. DOWN THE VENT SHAFT. This is a hilltop with grass and small trees. The ground is paved in flat, neat stone blocks grown through with grass and weeds. A round hole about six-feet wide is in the center. It leads down into a crooked, dark vertical shaft about nine feet in diameter. The side view of the shaft is above. The three ledges shown are rough, the result of the earth shifting. Atop the first one rests the bony remains of a human skeleton, completely harmless, with the ragged bits of leather armor about it. A rusted flail is nearby, and some 1d6 each of gold, silver and copper coins spill from a rotten leather pouch. The walls of the shaft are streaked with strands of silk spider webbing, though not enough to form
4. STORE ROOM There is a closed, simple wooden door (3 feet wide, 6 feet high) in a recessed alcove in the center of the wall. It has a set of bars about two feet from the top (about a foot by foot) through which barrels and boxes can be seen in the dark room. The door is tied shut with rope and easily opened. Most of the barrels contain water; one contains a strong alcoholic beverage brewed from whatever jungle fruit and sugarcane can be collected. The crude wooden crates contain rough canvas and food stuffs. A small wooden cask with a stoppered bung hole
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holds about 5 gallons of lamp oil. Read common letters on it mention a small oil refinery near the PCs place of origin way back on the mainland.
coiled here. They have 20 g.p. each in small leather pouches. Snakemen (AC 7 (tough, scaly hide), HD 1+1, hp 9, 8, 8, 5, 3, 2 MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F1, ML 7, AL C)
5. PASSAGE DOWN. A stout wooden door with a set of bars about two feet from the top is in the wall here. Lifting the latch opens it to reveal a snake stair-well. A tight corridor surfaced with small stones for traction spirals down some 50' to room #8 on the level below.
12. WOODEN TUB ON STEPS. The floor slopes up here a total of 10' and ends at a short flight of steps leading up to a door. As soon as the PCs get close enough they see a large wooden tub on the top steps: a normal party's footsteps will cause it to tip over; only a thief moving silently and alone will not trigger it. (Snakemen do not make enough vibrations to tip it.) If it tips over, a large black blob spills out and comes oozing down the steps towards them (looking exactly like a black pudding monster.) If struck by fire, this chemical explodes, splattering flaming goo everywhere: anyone within 30' is attacked by a 3 hit die monster (TH0 17) and takes 1d8 hit points of damage the first round if hit; if not extinguished by water (or smothering the flames) it burns two more rounds for 1d6 then 1d4 damage. If not struck by fire, it oozes down the hall covering some 30' of it, making it slippery and gooey, and posing a threat in that it will explode if struck by embers from a torch or other open flame.
6. EMPTY. This area is empty, with a few stray rocks and cobwebs. 7. ADMINISTRATION ROOM. This is the residence of a tough, mean snakeman that is in charge of the guards on this level (it gets a +1 bonus to hit and damage due to strength). It is always in a surly mood and will not be happy with intruders. Six more lackeys with spears and shields share the residence. 1 snakeman leader (AC 7 (tough, scaly hide), HD 3+3, hp 20, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 16, #A 1 battle ax, D 2-9 (1d8+1 for strength), S F3, ML 9, AL C) 6 snakemen (AC 6 (tough, scaly hide and shield), HD 1+1, hp 8, 7, 6, 6, 5, 4, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 16 or by weapon, S F1, ML 7, AL C)
13. PRIESTESS QUARTERS. The door features a very well made lock (which is currently locked) on a very stout door. It opens inward. Inside is the snakeman priestess and two humans. The priestess has 4 arms and can fight with 2 maces and 2 shields. She wears a suit of brass coated steel chain mail.
The room is furnished with low tables but no benches or chairs. Hanging on the wall on a peg is a leather satchel with 200 g.p., 600 s.p., and 1300 c.p. in it.
Snakeman Lair Level 2
Snakeman priestess (AC 3 (tough, scaly hide plus chain mail; AC 1 with both shields), Level 6 Cleric, hp 24, MV 60' (20') unencumbered, TH0 17, #A 2 weapons or bite, D 1-6 by 2 x maces, S C6, ML 7, AL C) Spells (2, 2, 1, 1): 1st level - cause light wounds, detect good 2nd level - snake charm, hold person 3rd level - curse 4th level - neutralize poison
8. PASSAGE UP/DOWN. A snake stair-well winds upwards 50' and eventually ends at room #5 on the first level. 9. HALLWAY. A wide hallway. 10. COMMON ROOM. Seven snakemen (AC 7 (tough, scaly hide), HD 1+1, hp 9, 7, 7, 6, 6, 3, 3, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F1, ML 7, AL C) are in this room, which has wooden bunks and pallets for a dozen. Each wields a spear with a 50 g.p. gem embedded in the haft near the metal blade.
She has just completed a ritual binding the two humans to her service; each has a 50 g.p. gem embedded in his forehead and a vacant stare. They attack as she directs them and will fight until destroyed unless she calls them off:
11. SNAKEMEN GUARDS. Six snakemen are
2 humans under her control (AC 9, HD 3, hp 15
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and 12, MV 60' (20'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon, D 1-8 or weapon, S F3, ML 12, Al N)
and have their amulets, but are unarmed and unarmored. They will join the party, but if they reach a civilized region where they can acquire passage on a ship they will leave; they will also defect to fellow cultist at the drop of a hat. These are low level flunkies and know little about the cult's goals beyond it is seeking some ancient construction of power in the area. They were part of the pleasure barge crew: it was mapping and exploring the river and they have no idea of the cult's activities elsewhere. Cells "d" and "e" are empty.
These were crewmen aboard the pleasure barge. If freed from her service (when she is slain or forced to free them), they can offer little information: they know little about it's mission. The room has a low pallet and table (but no chairs or such.) On a small table is a wooden bamboo cylinder with a snugly fit lid (of bamboo); the lid has a small iron needle coated with poison cleverly hidden in it such that anyone who grips to twist it off will get poked (save versus poison or die, or suffer extreme illness for 1d6 x 4 hours.) Inside are 3 gems worth 50 g.p. each, 2 gems worth 100 g.p. and 300 g.p. On the wall is a length of rope with 3 bottles: 2 are potions of healing and one a potion of poison.
15. SLAUGHTER ROOM. This room has several blood splattered wooden tables. Bronze cleavers and knives hang on thongs on pegs in the walls. 16. PASSAGE DOWN. This snakeman passage winds down some 30' to room #18 on level 3. It has a pebbled floor but no steps.
13.b TREASURE. A room with a table and various treasures; a jewel encrusted goblet worth 500 g.p. (weight 10 cons), 1,000 g.p., 1,200 s.p., 1,500 c.p. (the coins are quiet ancient and of odd design, but are pure enough to be accepted as-is by most merchants.)
(17. left open for expansion)
Snakeman Lair Level 3 18 PASSAGE UP. This winding snakeman stairwell leads up to room # 16 on Level Two.
14. PRISON. Intelligent "meat" supplies are kept here for future feeding. The cells are blocked by heavy steel bars; a small 3' wide door is in each and is held shut by a strong pin bent over to one side; the doors cannot be picked and will require heavy tools to open the pins. Cell "a" contains two dead humans in black winding cloth garb. They unwrapped their turbans, looped them high on the bars, and then hung their selves. Each has a bronze amulet of a single eye and tattoos dedicated to evil. Cell "b" contains a single lizardman (AC 5, HD 2+1, hp 11, MV 60' (20') In water: 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F 2, ML 12, Al N) that hisses and jerks on the door desperately if the PCs pass by. It will join them in an effort to escape, if allowed. If the party exits the dungeon, it will leave the party and go off to find it's own tribe. Cell "c" contains three injured men who beg (in a strange dialect of common) to be set free "...before the snake people eat us!" They are members of the cult of evil (the hit points in parenthesis is what they will have if they heal): (AC 9, Level 1 fighters, hp 3 (6), 3 (6), 2 (4), MV 90' (30'), TH0 19, #A 1 weapon (battle axe), D 1-8, S F1, ML 7, Al C). They wear winding black clothing
19. WATER FOUNTAIN. A small fountain of water is in this niche. The water is fresh and potable. 20. NICHE. Nothing here. 21. AMBUSH. These two niches have strong stone pillars some 5' wide in them. Hiding behind each pillar are 3 snakemen (AC 7 (tough, scaly hide), HD 2+2, hp 12, 7, 6, 16, 11, 5, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 17, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 16 or by weapon, S F2, ML 7, AL C) with spears who will try to ambush intruders. Also read # 23 below. Their spears have 50 g.p. green gems embedded in the haft near the metal point. 22. HALLWAY. This high hallway has 4 columns supporting the north end and four forming a separation on the south end. 23. SNAKEMEN ARCHERS. Behind the pillars are four snakemen archers (AC 7 (tough, scaly hide), HD 2+2, hp 9, 8, 7, 4, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 17, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 16 or by weapon, S F2, ML 8, AL C) with short bows and hand axes, using the pillars for cover. A four-
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armed snakeman leader is also here and wields two swords (gaining a bonus of +2 to damage and hitting for strength) as well as 2 shields. Snakeman leader (AC 7 (tough, scaly hide), HD 6+6, hp 43, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 13, #A 2 weapons or 1 bite, D 3-10 (1d8+2) each sword, S F6, ML 9, AL C). The leader wears a leather harness studded with five 100 g.p. gems.
have their characters pause to look, listen and smell for a few minutes. If they wait long enough, a grunting can be heard and eventually one or two of the ghouls that dwell around the room at 26 will be seen scurrying out to chase giant rats that flee squealing from them. 26 GHOUL ENCLAVE. The ravenous ghouls will (if allowed) attack savagely. Each has a 50 g.p. gem embedded in it's forehead and is bound to the control of the snakeman priestess in room #13.
24. PASSAGE DOWN. This is a winding snake stair-well. It exits at #25 on Level 4.
Snakeman Lair Level 4
6 ghouls (AC 6, HD 2*, hp 10, 9, 8, 8, 7, 6, #A 1 claws / 1 bite, Dam 1-3/1-3/1-3, Mv 90' (30'), TH0 18, S F2, Ml 9)
This level features a guard of undead beasts. The priestess in room #13 controls them when snakepeople need to move back and forth through them. Random Encounters are uncommon, occurring on a roll of 6 on 1d6 every turn (10 minutes.)
27. EMPTY ALCOVE. Little more than bones and broken bits of furniture. 28. BLOCKED. A set of heavy iron bars block the passage leading into the hallway to the west.
1d6 Encounter 1-2 1-6 giant rats (AC 7, HD 1/2, hp 3, 4, 2, 1, 3, 2, #A 1 bite, Dam 1-3 + 1 in 20 chance disease, Mv 120' (40') (1/2 swimming), TH0 19, S NM, Ml 8, Al N)
29. GHOUL GUARD POST. Eight ghouls (AC 6, HD 2*, MV 90' (30'), hp 15, 15, 14, 14, 10, 6, 6, 5, TH0 18, #A 2 claws/1 bite, D 1-3 all + special, S F2, ML 9, Al C) (from cannibal natives) hunker here despondently, waiting for feeding time. Each has a 50 g.p. gem embedded in it's forehead and is bound to the control of the snakeman priestess in room #13.
3-4 1-6 ghouls (AC 6, HD 2*, hp 10, 9, 8, 8, 7, 6, #A 1 claws / 1 bite, Dam 1-3/1-3/1-3, Mv 90' (30'), TH0 18, S F2, Ml 9, AL C)* 5 3d6 normal rats (AC 9, HD 1 hp, MV 60' (20') 30' (10'), TH0 19, #A 1 bite, D 1 + disease, S NM, ML 5, Al N) 6 1d4 Giant Frogs (AC 7, HD 1, hp 7, 6, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3, MV 90' (30'), TH0 19, #A 1 bite, D 1-3, S NM, ML 6, Al N)
30. SNAKEMAN WARDEN. A set of iron bars block the entry to this room. The lever that raises them is some 10' east of the bars on the north wall, and can be pushed up to raise it (or down to lower it) via a 10' pole, long spear, or other means of reaching through the bars. Six snakemen guards (AC 7 (tough, scaly hide), HD 2+2, hp 18, 15, 12, 11, 9, 9, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, TH0 17, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 16 or by weapon, S F2, ML 8, AL C) reside here. The priestess in room #13 usually arrives every so often to bring food or such. In the center of the west wall is a lever that raises (by lifting it up) or lowers (by dropping it) the iron bars at the intersection of #28. Also in the room are three large clay urns (about 25 gallon capacity) with water, a small one (about 5 gallons capacity) with an a weak local wine, and a sack with various types of dried meat and vegetables and fruits (about 40 pounds). The niches south are individual rooms with straw pallets. Underneath one pallet in a hole covered by loose earth is a pouch with 100 p.p.
* Each has a 50 g.p. gem embedded in it's forehead and is bound to the control of the snakeman priestess in room #13. 25 PASSAGE FROM THE UPPER LEVEL. The winding snake stair-well that starts in room #24 stops here, opening out in the east wall. There is a thirty foot drop. Splinters and chunks of wood lie scattered far below where a wooden access ramp may have existed. Spaced about every five feet up the wall are (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30) are twin sets of holes about eight inches (20 centimeters) square and a foot (30 centimeters) deep. Two ropes are tied to a heavy bar driven across the bottom of the opening, and coiled nearby. A foul, rotten odor will drift up if the players
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31. FALLING WALLS. This stretch of hallway looks like any other: the secret "walls" north and south are extremely hard to differentiate without a tedious search for minor cracks where they join the main wall. There are three pressure plates in the floor as marked with "X"s: each extends the width and breadth of the square shown and each is broken into segments. Snakepeople sliding along do not exert enough ground pressure on any one segment to trigger the plate; most humanoid PCs and NPCs do. Stepping on one causes the walls to fall into the floor in a split second, releasing 12 zombies (AC 8, HD 2, hp 13, 12, 12, 11, 11, 10, 10, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D 1-8 or weapon, S F 1, ML 12, Al C) in the north cubicle and 12 skeletons (AC 7, HD 1, hp 8, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, MV 60' (20'), TH0 19, #A 1, D 1-6 or weapon, S F 1, ML 12, Al C) in the south cubicle to attack intruders.
hungrily at them around the rim. They are joined by more frogs each round of combat until 7 total are attacking. 7 giant frogs (AC 7, HD 2+2, hp 16, 15, 13, 11, 7, 6, 6, MV 90' (30'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite, D 2-5, S F1, ML 6, Al N) NOTE: The above statistics are the same for "giant toads." These frogs are highly toxic (said poisons are in their skin and saliva) and anyone hit by one must save versus poison or be debilitated by extreme illness for 1d6 hours; a second save is then required to avoid death. The PCs could collect perhaps enough of this poison for 7 uses. It is slippery and will not adhere well to weapons and will loose potency in 2 days. Processing one dose to make it sticky and to preserve it might take 100 to 600 g.p. (the DM's choice based on how expensive decent poisons are in their world.) To the west is a single plant with 1d6+1 (2-7) colorful fruit. Each fruit weighs 10 coins and functions as a potion of healing. This fruit will only keep for 4 weeks or so (attempts to preserve them fail, unless enough money has to be spent to make a potion of healing.) At the bottom of the pool is a sunken longboat, long rotted away. Amid the decayed wood and rusted iron fittings is what was once a wooden chest containing 1300 g.p., a potion of invisibility and (in an airtight wooden container), five +1 arrows, and six +1 crossbow bolts.
32. EMPTY CHAMBER. Nothing here. 33. RAT WARREN. This wall is scoured by holes about 4' round near the floor. It is a warren for 12 giant rats (AC 7, HD 1/2, hp 4, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, MV 120' (40') 60' (20'), TH0 19, #A 1 bite each, D 1-3 + disease, S F 1, ML 8, Al N). They leave by swimming through the passage in room. Their nests contain a gem worth 250 g.p. and 30 g.p. in loose coins drug in with the clothes of some unfortunate soul eaten long ago. 34. POOL. This high-vaulted natural cavern is slick with moss. The smell of water plants waft from the large opening gaping to the south. During the day is it usually bright and the exterior is obvious. Holes have been chewed into the east wall (see #33).
FINAL NOTE ON THE SNAKEPEOPLE: This small outpost is a sampling of the snakepeople. Elsewhere on the island and in other places one might find a different, more advanced race of snake-human hybrids called the "lamia", who are typically much more powerful (6 to 9 hit die or so) and have mystic sight. Under their tutorship, the snakepeople brought down a cyclops society on the island devoted to gaining power over other races. Evil replaced evil, with it's own ambitions for power.
35. POOL EXTERIOR. This opens into the glade outside, where giant frogs wait on prey. The characters hear a deep splash, as loud as a human leaping into the water. Presently 2-5 (1d4+1) giant frogs will attack the party, leaping
57
Appendix I: Pre-generated PCs , New Magic, New Monsters make up their own. Some details are not covered (such as ability score modifiers) due to variations in game games: s: look look up whate whatever ver is missin missing. g. Some Some basic basic equip equipme ment nt is sugge suggeste sted, d, but but the DM will will have to flesh them out more.
NPCs A harried DM who needs some characters to use quic quickl kly y can can thro throw w som some of thes these e into into play play,, chan changin ging g deta details ils as desir desired ed.. They They can also be used for players who do not have enough time to NPCs: Nonna Oakwithe female dwarf fighter
William Kleg male dwarf fighter
Alexi Wolf-ears female elf fighter
4 9,900 18 2/1 16 (+2) 12 15 (+1) 14 (+1) 12 6 (-1) war hammer shield plate mail
4 9,450 18 2/1 14 (+1) 14 (+1) 11 15 (+1) 9 12 sword shield plate mail crossbow
3 9,450 11 5/4 17 (+2) 13 (+1) 10 11 12 12 pole arm, hand axe chain mail shield sling
Name Sex Race Class Exp Level Exp. Points HP AC Str Int Wis Dex Con Cha Equipment:
Filbert Hella Trudy Name Lorne Wraithspleen le Caffrey Sex male female female Race human human human Class cleric cleric fighter Level XPs HP AC Str Int Wis Dex Con Cha Eqp.
4 9,450 18 4/3 11 13 (+1) 14 (+1) 13 (+1) 13 (+1) 11 mace
4 9,450 14 5/4 14 (+1) 11 13 (+1) 10 12 15 (+!) flail
shield chain mail
shield chain mail
Aron Fishstealer male human fighter
4 9,900 26 3/3 17 (+2) 9 12 9 16 (+2) 12 battle ax
4 9,900 22 2/1 18 (+3) 9 9 14 (+1) 13 (+1) 12 sword
plate mail
shield plate mail
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Kale Wolf-ears male elf fighter/magicuser 3 9,450 11 5/4 14 (+1) 13 (+1) 11 10 12 15 (+1) spear chain mail shield bow, 20 arrows 6 silver arrows
Lillian Killy female halfling fighter
Blink Tolston male halfling fighter
4 9,450 14 5/4 14 (+1) 11 13 (+1) 10 12 15 (+1) hand axe chain mail shield
4 9,450 18 4/3 13 (+1) 9 14 (+1) 14 (+1) 13 (+1) 12 short sword chain mail silver knife
female male human human magic-user magicuser 3 3 9,450 9,900 11 11 9/9/10 12 15 (+1) 17 (+2) 12 10 12 11 14 (+1) 13 (+1) 12 12 6x 4x daggers daggers
Rob Gyk male human thief
Redsilk female human thief
5 9,900 18 5/15 (+1) 9 11 17 (+2) 13 (+1) 10 sword
5 9,900 13 5/13 (+1) 12 11 17 (+2) 11 11 sword
leather leather 2 daggers 2 daggers
New Monsters The goal is to provide a selection of aquatic and prehistoric creatures not defined by the main rule books the author has, for the DM who is looking to add variety to their game. Not all users will have the same supplements and expanded rules sets. If you prefer a definition from some other source, use it! The number of creatures handy for lost settings and naval encounters not covered by most rules is pretty extensiv extensive. e. The islands will be home home to whateve whatever r other creatures the DM wants, as well. Ant Lion, Giant Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage:
3 5 120' (40') 1 bite 1-10
No. Appearing: 1-4 (2-8) Save As: Fighter: 3 Mo Morale: 9 Treasure Type: Ni N il Alignment: Neutral
Common monkey (AC 6, HD 1/2, MV 120' (40'), TH0 16, #A 1 claw and bite, D 1-2, S NM, ML 6, Al N) Baboon (AC 6, HD 1/2 to 1, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19, #A 1 claw and bite, D 1-3, S NM to F1, ML 8, Al N)
Giant Ant Lion (AC 3, HD 5, MV 120' (40'), TH0 15, #A 1 bite, D 1-10, S F 3, ML 9, Al N) Thes These e beet beetle le-l -lik ike e inse insect cts s dig dig unde underg rgro roun und d tunn tunnels els.. They They creat create e traps traps of loose loose earth earth which which appear like normal ground, but once a creature gets near near the the cent center er they they drain drain into into an under undergro groun und d channel, pulling the victim down with them. Their victim falls some 10 feet or more and the ant lion pounces on them. An ant lion may have several sand traps near a central chamber, and will exit one if fleeing.
Chimpanzee (AC 6, HD 1 to 1+1, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19 to 18, #A 1 claw and bite, D 1-4, S F 1, ML 7, Al N) Orangutan (AC 6, HD 1+1 to 2, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18, #A 1 claw and bite, D 1-6, S F 1, ML 6, Al N) Gorilla (AC 6, HD 2 to 3, MV 120' (40'), TH0 18 to 17, #A 1 claw and bite, D 1-8, S F1 to F 2, ML 7, Al N) Cave Gorilla (AC 6, HD 4, MV 120' (40'), TH0 16, #A 1 claw and bite, D 1-10, S F 2, ML 7, Al N)
Apes and Monkeys Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Climbing: Attacks: Gorilla: Damage: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
covers covers the the more more comm common on,, natu natural ral creatu creatures res as encountered on the Dreaded Islands. Most of these are not not aggre aggressi ssive ve to huma humans ns unles unless s defen defendin ding g young or their territory. Most are vegetarians. Common monkeys come in many different types and are smaller than most other types. Baboons are often the size of common common monkeys but are far more aggr aggres essi sive ve and and occa occasi sion onal ally ly even even hunt hunt smal smalll animals animals and other other monkeys monkeys for food. food. Oranguta Orangutans ns are more solitary than the other types; on Earth they are only found in a few select places. The cave cave goril gorilla la cover covers s gigan gigantop topith ithec ecus us and and similar "giant prehistoric apes" who may have been harmless plant eaters or not. General statistics are:
6 1/2 to 4 120' (40') 120' (40') 1 bite 2 claws 1-2, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-6 2-12 (3-18) Fighter:NM to Fighter: 2 7 Nil Neutral
Beetle, Giant Rhinoceros Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
The rock baboon and white ape defined in most rule books are fantastic fantastic variations, very carnivorous, carnivorous, aggressive and even bigger than normal. This entry
1 (exoskeleton) 7 or 14 120' (40') 1 bite 2-12 or 2-24 1-2 (1-2) Fighter: 4 or Fighter: 7 10 Nil Neutral
Giant rhinoceros beetle (AC 1, HD 7 or 14, MV 120' (40'), TH0 13 or 9, #A 1 bite, D 2-12 or 2-24, S F 4
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or F 7, ML 10, Al N) Cephalapodian (AC 9, HD 1 to 10, hp varies, Mv 120' (40'), TH0 varies, #A 1 weapon, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F1 to F10, Ml 7, Al Any)
AKA "Her "Herc cules les beetles" les",, the these massiv ssive e creatures trundle about in search of food. They have a single single hooked hooked horn horn on their their foreh forehea ead d which which is usually used when fighting for mating rights.
Shark headed cephalapodian (AC 9, HD 3 to 4, hp varies, Mv 120' (40'), TH0 17 or 16, #A 1 bite or 1 weapon, D 1-8 or by weapon, S F3 to F4, Ml 8, Al Any)
Beetle, Giant Stink Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage:
3 3 150' (50') 1 bite 1-10
No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
1-6 (1-12) Fighter: 2 9 Nil Neutral
Chief cephalapodian (AC 9, HD 8 to 9, hp varies, Mv 120' (40'), TH0 12, #A 1 bite or 1 weapon, D 1-8 or by weapon, S F8 to F9 Ml 9, Al Any)
Giant stink beetle (AC 3, HD 3, MV 150' (50'), #A 1 bite, D 1-10, S F2, ML 9, Al N) These giant beetles can emit a massive blast of extremely foul liquid that forms a vapor field for 30 feet around them, causing any victims within that area to gag and choke in nausea for 1d6 rounds (unless they save versus poison.) This liquid dries up in around 2d6 rounds (20 - 120 seconds). Those on the Dreaded Islands often have a shimmering emerald green or electric blue carapace. Cave Lion Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage:
6 No. Appearing: 11-4 (1-4) 7 Save As: Fighter: 4 150' (50') Morale: 10 2 claws/1Treasure Nil bite Type: 1-8/1-8/2-12 Alignment: Neutral
Cave lion (AC 6, HD 7, MV 150' (50'), TH0 12, #A 2 claws/1 bite, D 1-8/1-8/2-12, S F 4, ML 10, Al N) Large prehistoric relative of the lion.
Chameliod, Common Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Flying: Attacks: Damage: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
Cephalapodian (Squid People) Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Swimming: Attacks: Damage: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
At first glance cephalapodians look like a hybrid merm mermai aid d - a huma human n body body from from hips hips on up with with octopi tentacles instead of legs. Whether or not the two races are related is up to the DM. These people can breathe aerated water or raw air equally well. They vary in hit die from 1 to 9: most are 1 hit die, heroes 2 hit die and so on. Few reach higher than 5 or 6 hit die; the ones on up are leaders and "nobles." They can have classes and experience levels like humans. Most of them will be fairly irly humanoid in appearance. Some odd types exist, such as sharkheaded cephalopods who tend to act as heroes and henchmen for more noble types. The king has an octopi-like head surrounded by eight tentacles. A secret they tend to keep away from strangers is that the nobles have a limited shape changing ability. ability. Once they they assume assume a form, form, they are often often locked into it for some timeL they have about a 1 in 6 chance per day of reverting to another form. Some forms are only allowed to nobles. Commoners who attem attempt pt to assum assume e them them are flaye flayed d horri horridly dly,, as befit's the wrath of their deities. The shark-head and octop octopi-h i-hea ead d are the the two main main forms forms the the deiti deities es regulate for those on Dreaded Islands.
9 1 to 9 30' (10') land 120' (40') 1 weapon 1-6 or by weapon 2-12 (6-60) Fighter:1 to 9 7, 8 or 9 A Any
7 (hide) 1 or higher 120' (40') 360' (120') 1 weapon 1-6 or by weapon 1-6 (5-30) Fighter:1 to 3 7 A Chaotic
Chameliods are offshoots of lizardmen. They are hybrid of chameleon lizards and have a color and
60
texture changing skin that makes them very stealthy. They also have suction-cup like knobs on the ends of their toes and fingers which allow them to cling to almost anything. Different tribes might have their own characteristics. The ones in this module use blowguns and poisons they make on their own.
lizard). Plesiosaurs were the long-necked long tailed creatures with a small head and four flippers. These include the Cryptoclidus (hidden clavicles), Elasmosaurus (ribbon lizard or thin plate), Muraenosaurus, and Plesiosaurus (near lizard). Pliosaurs were much like mosasuars with minor differences. They appeared much earlier. Members include: Liopleurodon, Macroplata, Peloneustes and Kronosaurus (Kronos lizard, king of time). Ichthyosaurs were fish-like creatures that breathed air. Members include: Cymbospondylus, Ichthyosaurus (fish lizard) Eurhinosaurus, Mixosaurus (mixed reptile), Opthalmosaurus (eye lizard), Shonisaurus (Shosone Mountain lizard) and Temnodontosaurus (cutting toothed lizard).
Chameliods (AC 6 natural hide, HD 2+1, hp varies, MV 60' (20') In water: 120' (40'), #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F2, ML 12, Al N) Winged chameliods (AC 6 natural hide, HD 2+1, hp varies, MV 60' (20') In water: 120' (40'), #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F2, ML 12, Al N) The alpha female can spit poison, and her claws and fangs are poisoned. Alpha female chameliods (AC 6 natural hide, HD 6, hp varies, MV 60' (20') In water 120' (40'), #A 1 weapon, D 2-7 or weapon + 1, S F6, ML 12, Al N)
Dinosaurs, Vegetarian
Dinosaurs, Carnivorous Even the T-rex was born small and had to grow up. The Dreaded Islands offer statistics for all sorts of small and large carnivores for the DM who wants variety by name. The DM can always pick one or two favorites and use them as the main carnivore. The deinonychus, dromaeosaurs and velociraptor were all of the same general family (dromaeosaurs) of stiff tailed, hook clawed smaller predators. Utahraptor is an example of one of the largest large raptor dinosaur, reaching perhaps 900 to 1,000 pounds by some estimates. Any number of smallish dinosaurs existed which ate insects, small reptiles, mammals and whatever else they could including fruit.
Bipedal vegetarian dinosaurs included: Hadrosaurs (duck bills) with crests (Corynthosaurus, Lambeosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Saurolophus) and those without not: (Anatosaurus, Bactrosaurus, Edmontosaurus, Hadrosaurus, Kritosaurus, Maiasauru and Tsintaosaurus.) Spiked-thumb iguanodons (Iguanodon, Ouranosaurus). And thick-skulled pachycephalosaurs (Goyocephale, Homalocephale, Pachycephalosaurus, Prenocephale, Stegocerus, Stygimoloch, Wannanosaurus). Some people debate whether the Therizinosaurus with it's large scythe-like forelimb claws was a vegetarian or not (about 9 to 13 hit die or so). Quadrapedal dinosaurs included the armored ankylosaurs (with clubbed tails) and their sub-family the closely related nodosaurs (usually did not have clubbed tails.) Ceratopsins were bony-faced beasts, the beat known being the triceratops but a number of others existed, including some with only 1 or no horn. Sauropods ranged in size from smallish to huge. They include Apatosaurus 9once called the Brontosaurus), Argentinasaurus, Barapasaurus, Barosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Camarasaurus, Cetiosaurus, Diplodicous, Mamenchisaurus, Opisthocoelicaudia, Saltasaurus, Seismosaurus, Shunosaurus, Titanosaurus, and Vulcanodon. Some grazed low on grasses an others high on leaves. A number of other minor vegetarians existed, including prosauropods which were early ancestors
Dinosaurs, Marine Marine dinosaurs and reptiles existed alongside some types of fish, mollusks and other aquatic creatures, including primitive sharks that could be gigantic. The following types were air breathers. As with most dinosaurs, some were massive, but others were no bigger than a man - if not smaller. Mosasaurs were short necked, big headed reptiles with flippers and short tails. They could reach 24 hit die or more, though many were much smaller. These would include the Clidestes, Globidens, Mosasaurus (Meuse River lizard), Plotosaurus (floating lizard), Tylosaurus (knob
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of sauropods and might have 9 hit die at most (Anchisaurus, Lufengosaurus, Massospondylus, Plateosaurus, Sellosaurus, Thecodontosaurus) and AC Carnivorous, Large: Allosaurus Baryonyx Carnotaurus Gigantosaurus Spinosaurus Suchomimus Tyrannosaurs rex Carnivorous, Small: Deinonychus Dromaeosaur Various Various Various Velociraptor
others.
AC
Hit Die
Speed
Damage
6 7 7 3 4 5 3
12 9 6 20 18 14 20
120' (40') 120' (40') 120' (40') 120' (40') 120' (40') 120' (40') 120' (40')
4-24 3-18 2-12 6-36 5-30 4-24 6-36
7 7 7 7 6 7
3 1 to 3 1/2 to 2 3 to 4 5 to 6 1/2 to 1 HD
150' (50') 150' (50') 150' (50') 120' (40') 120' (40') 180' (60')
1-8 1-4 to 1-8 1-2 to 1-4 1-6 or 1-8 1-10 or 1-12 1-3 to 1-4
Dinosaur, Marine Ichthyosaurs, Small Ichthyosaurs, Medium Ichthyosaurs, Large Ichthyosaurs, Massive Mosasaurs, Small Mosasaurs, Medium Mosasaurs, Large Mosasaurs, Massive Plesiosaurs, Small Plesiosaurs, Medium Plesiosaurs, Large Plesiosaurs, Massive Pliosaurs, Small Pliosaurs, Medium Pliosaurs, Large Pliosaurs, Massive
AC 8 6 3 1 9 7 6 1 9 8 7 5 9 7 6 2
Hit Die 1 7 14 22 1 6 12 24 1 3 7 11 1 5 10 20
Dinosaur, Vegetarian Ankylosaur Nodosaurs Ceratops: Centrosaurus Chasmosaurus Pentaceratops Protoceratops Styracosaurus
AC 0 0
Hit Die 7 7
Speed 60' (20') 60' (20')
Attacks 1 tail 1 tail
Damage 2-12 1-8
3 3 2 4 3
7 5 10 2 6
90' (30') 90' (30') 90' (30') 90' (30') 90' (30')
1 gore or trample 1 gore or trample 1 gore or trample 1 gore or trample 1 gore or trample
1-12 1-8 2-16 1-3 1-10
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Speed 150' (50') 180' (60') 180' (60') 210' (70') 120' (40') 150' (50') 150' (50') 180' (60') 90' (30') 120' (40') 120' (40') 150' (50') 120' (40') 150' (50') 150' (50') 180' (60')
Attacks 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite 1 bite
Damage 1-2 1-12 2-24 3-36 1-2 1-12 2-24 4-48 1-2 1-4 1-10 2-16 1-2 1-10 2-20 4-40
Triceratops Bipedal: Hadrosaurs Iguanodon Pachycephalosaurs Pachycephalosaurs Pachycephalosaurs Sauropods* (roll 1d20): Small Medium Large Massive Stegosaurus (11 HD) - 1d6
2
11
90' (30')
1 gore or trample
3-18
5 5 7 6 5
10 - 15 9 - 14 1-2 3-4 5-6
120' (40') 120' (40') 150' (50') 120' (40') 120' (40')
1 tail 1 tail 1 head butt 1 head butt 1 head butt
1-10 or 2-14* 1-10 or 2-14* 1-2 1-4 1-6
7 6 5 4
6 12 18 36 - 38
60' (20) 60' (20) 60' (20) 60' (20)
1 bite/1 tail 1 bite/1 tail 1 bite/1 tail 1 bite/1 tail
1-3/1-6 1-6/1-12 1-10/3-18 3-18/6-36
3
11
60' (20)
1 tail or trample
2-16 or 2-16
2-14 = (d4+d10 or d6+d8)
Dog Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage:
7 1 180' (60') 1 bite 1-3
slain) and driven off. Common eels can be 1/2 to 1 hit die while giant versions are typically 2, 4 or 6 hit die (1d3 x 2).
No. Appearing: 2-12 (3-18) Save As: Fighter:1 Morale: 8 (6) Treasure Type: Nil Alignment: Neutral
Elephant, Shovel Tusker
Smaller, less aggressive variants of the wolf such as wild hunting dogs and dingoes. Eel
Common
Giant
Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
6 1/2 or 1 90' (30') 1 bite 1-2 or 1-3 1-6 Fighter:1 7 Nil Neutral
6 2, 4 or 6
Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
1 bite 1-6, 1-8, 1-10 1-6 F: 1, 2, or 3 8, 8, 9 Nil Neutral
5 8 - 12 120' (40') 2 tusks or trample 1-6/1-6 or 3-30 to 2-8/2-8/440 0 (1-12) Fighter: 4, 5, 6 8 Nil Neutral
Shovel-tusker's predated modern elephants and are included for variety. Their bottom jaw extends in a shovel-like plate which may have been used for various purposes. Examples of types: Phiomia (AC 5, HD 8, MV 120' (40'), TH0 12, #A 2 tusks or 1 trample, D 1-6/1-6 or 3-30, S F 4, ML 8, Al N)
Eel (AC 6, HD 1/2 to 1, MV 90' (30'), #A 1 bite, D 12 or 1-3, S NM to F1, ML 8, Al N) Giant Eel (AC 6, HD 2 to 6, MV 120' (40'), #A 1 bite, D 1-6, 1-8 or 1-10, S F1 to F3, ML 8, Al N) These snakelike aquatic creatures lurk among reefs and rugged outcropping, hiding in holes to dart out and ambush prey. If they hit with a natural 20, they have clung to prey and rend it for automatic damage for 1d6 rounds or until seriously injured (or
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Gomphotherium (AC 5, HD 10, MV 120' (40'), TH0 11, #A 2 tusks or 1 trample, D 2-8/2-8 or 3-36, S F 5, ML 8, Al N) Platybelodon (AC 5, HD 12, MV 120' (40'), TH0 10, #A 2 tusks or 1 trample, D 2-8/2-8 or 4-40, S F 6, ML 8, Al N)
in the water they attack boats or swimmers who get too near.
Frog, Giant Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Morale: Damage:
7 2+2 90' (30') 1 bite 2-5
No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
1-4 (1-4) Fighter: 1 6 Nil Neutral
Hyena, giant
Giant frogs are the same general size and have the characteristics of a toad: they have chameleon skin (surprise foes on a 1-3 on 1d6) and can extend their tongue 15'. On a natural roll of 20 when rolling to hit they can drag anything dwarf sized or smaller in their mouth and swallow it; said victim takes 1-6 (1d6) points of damage each round until dead or freed. Frogs are more aquatic and have a poisonous skin and saliva; anyone they hit must save versus poison or be debilitated by extreme illness for 1d6 hours; a second save is then required to avoid death. Glyptodon Armor Class:3 Hit Dice: 3 to 5 Move: 60' (20') Attacks: 1 tail or bite Damage: 1-10 or 2-16
7 4+4 180' (60') 1 bite 2-12
No. Appearing: 1-6 (1-10) Save As: Fighter:2 Morale: 8 (6) Treasure Type: Nil Alignment: Neutral
Giant Hyena (AC 7, HD 4+4, hp varies, MV 180' (60'), #A 1 bite, D 2-12, ML 8 (6), Al N) Whether these beasts are natural or the get of magical research is not known. They are tougher and meaner than horses and favored by some gnolls as mounts. They tend to be rare, often only found with gnolls. The author is debating whether or not to use "prehistoric hyenas" for this or not. Hyena (wolf statistics)
No. Appearing: 0 (1-12) Save As: Fighter: 4 Morale: 7 Treasure Type:Nil Alignment: Neutral
Hyenas are a common predator on the islands. To avoid randomly defining statistics, the author used wolf statistics. Hyenas and wolves tend to be the same size and have much the same family structure. Hyenas are not canines and are more closely related to meerkats and mongooses.
Glyptodon (AC 3, HD 3 to 5, MV 60' (20'), TH0 17 to 15, #A 1 tail or bite, D 1-6 to 1-10, S F 2 to F3, ML 7, Al N)
Hyenadon (dire wolf statistics) The name means "hyena tooth", but they are not related to hyenas. They were a family of predatory mammals that died out millions of years ago, while hyenas thrived. While some were small, others were the size of a small pony (400 to 500 pounds.) Rather than make up his own random numbers, the author uses dire wolf statistics.
A massive armadillo-like creature that was a vegetarian but might aggressively defend itself. Hippopotamus Armor Class: 5 Hit Dice: 8 Move: 120' (40') Attacks: 1 bite or trample Damage: 1-10 or 2-16
Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage:
No. Appearing: 0 (1-12) Save As: Fighter: 4 Morale: 7 Treasure Nil Type: Alignment: Neutral
Hyena, Prehistoric (dire wolf statistics) Prehistoric hyenas were called just that "prehistoric hyenas." They varied in size; some were no bigger than modern hyenas. Some reached pony size (400 to 500 pounds). Rather than make up his own random numbers, the author uses dire wolf statistics.
Hippopotamus (AC 5, HD 8, MV 120' (40'), TH0 12, #A bite or trample, D 2-8 or 1-12 or 2-16, S F 4, ML 7, Al N) These aquatic 4-legged mammals can be dangerous, guarding their territory and young by attacking anything they come across. They live in deep rivers and pools, exiting to feed on grasses on land at night and sometimes during the day. When
Jellyfish, giant Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move:
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7 6 30' (10')
6 5 12 18 30' (10') 30' (10')
Attacks: Damage: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
1-6 2-12 1-6 + paralysis each hit 1-6 1-4 Fighter:3 Fighter:6 7 8 Nil Nil Neutral Neutral
3-18
Lizards
1-2 Fighter:9 9 Nil Neutral
Armor Class: 5 Hit Dice: 5 Move: 90' (30') Attacks: 1 bite Damage: 1-10 No. Appearing: 1d6 (1-6) Save As: Fighter:3 Morale: 7 Treasure Type: Nil Alignment: Neutral
These translucent creatures float or slowly swim in the water, dangling dozens of detection tentacles below them. When prey (anything small enough to deal with) brush the tentacles, long, strong stinging tentacles whip out to attack. These creatures are not intelligent and thus the number of stingers that attack a victim varies (each has a maximum of 1 stinger per hit die.) A victim so stricken must save versus to paralysis or be paralyzed for 1d6 hours (1 - 6). A paralyzed victim will be wrapped up by the tentacles that attacked it, and drug to the body to be digested. Digestion can be slow (perhaps 1-6, 2-12, or 3-18 hit points damage per 10 minute turn.)
5 3 90' (30') 1 bite 1-8 1d6 (1-6) Fighter:2 7 Nil Neutral
6 2 90' (30') 1 bite 1-4 1d6 (1-6) Fighter:1 7 Nil Neutral
Dimetrodons have a large sail on back and predated dinosaurs. Gorgonopsids have fanged mouths and predated dinosaurs. Komodo Dragons are modern lizards reaching the size of a man or twice that and have a toxic bite. Victims must save versus poison or take 1d6 hit points of damage per hour for 1d6 hours.
Kangaroo, normal to giant Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
Dimetrodon Gorgonop Komodo sid Dragon
7 1 to 3 120' (40') kick with dew claws 1-4, 1-8, or 2-12 by claws 1-6 (5-30) Fighter:1 to 2 7 Nil Neutral
Mammoth
Imperial
Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks:
5 5 13 - 15 8 120' (40') 120' (40') 2 tusks or 1 2 tusks or 1 trample trample 2-12/2-12 or 4- 2-8/2-8 or 4-24 32 1d6 (1-6) 1d6 (1-6) Fighter:7 to 8 Fighter:4 8 8 Nil Nil Neutral Neutral
Damage: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
These creatures are not natural to the island, but giant kangaroos have been brought in by some cultists for riding. Normal kangaroos are around human-sized. They are built to run at speed for long durations. Those larger than 1 hit die are considered to be "giant" kangaroos that grow to the size of a smaller horse and can be domesticated for riding. While vegetarians, they can defend their self by kicking with the claws on their hind legs for a combined damage of 1-4, 1-8 or 2-12 damage by hit die.
Wooly
Imperial Mammoth (AC 5, HD 13 - 15, MV 120' (40'), TH0 10 to 9, #A 2 tusks or 1 trample, D 2-12/2-12 or 4-32, S F 8, ML 8, Al N) Woolly Mammoth (AC 5, HD 8, MV 120' (40'), TH0 12, #A 2 tusks or 1 trample, D 2-8/2-8 or 4-24, S F 8, ML 8, Al N) Mammoths had teeth suited for grinding rough grasses and dry vegetation, as opposed to the leafeating teeth of mastodons. Movie makers and book writers enjoy the romantic idea that all prehistoric creatures were massive beasts: imperial mammoths were large compared to even modern elephants, but woolly mammoths were small, built to survive cold weather with short, compact bodies. Many would have very large tusks probably worth 100 to 800
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g.p. each or more.
breath while underwater, and so on.
Mosquito, giant
Preying Mantis, Giant
Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
9 (frail) 1/2 150' (30') flying, 30' (10') walking 1 bite 1-2 + drain 1 hit point per round Swarms of 1d6+6 Fighter:1 7 Nil Neutral
Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
3 (exoskeleton) 6 120' (40') 2 claws/1 bite 1-6/1-6/2-12 1-4 (2-8) Fighter: 3 9 Nil Neutral
Giant Preying Mantis (AC 3, HD 6, MV 120' (40'), TH0 14, #A 2 claws/1 bite, D 1-6/1-6/2-12, S F 3, ML 9, Al N)
Giant Mosquito (AC 9, HD 1/2, hp 2 each, MV 150' (50'), #A 1 bite, D 1-2 + blood drain per round, S NM, ML 7, Al N) These insects tend to be frail and easily hit by an attack, but swarm victims by the dozen. Typically 1d6+6 attack each living creature in a party. While a victim is killing one or two, the others will be latching on to attempt to suck blood (they must score a hit; once they do they have drilled their long proboscises into the body and no longer have to score a hit to drain blood). Each one will drain 1 hit point of blood per combat round (10 seconds) until killed or satiated (it has drained twice as many hit points as it has.) They inject anti-coagulants to aid in feeding; the victim bleeds another hit point of damage the round after one detaches, or after one is slain after attaching itself to a victim. They dwell around wet areas with grasses and canes where the females can drop larvae after feeding.
"Stick insects", these creatures specialize in ambush, waiting amid trees and brush that they blend in with and remaining still for hours waiting for prey to come within reach. They move slowly if they move. Their outer skin will change colors to match the environment like a chameleon, making it even harder to detect them. They are as hard to find as a secret door. Their lightning fast reflexes almost guarantee they get first attack. They usually only bite of both of their claw-like fore arms grab their prey. Snail, Giant Cone Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage:
Nereid Nerieds may be defined elsewhere. In this module a "neried" is one of fifty hand-picked handmaidens of the goddess of the ocean and seas (Thetis, for example). They are priestesses and have clerical powers, attuned to seaborne life. They often have their own duties to perform when not gathered to the goddess. Most are mermaids or other quasi-human aquatic hybrids. Nerieds go beyond clericism: they each dabble in some form of odd magic, possessing odd magic items they can use or reward others with and even special powers. This is monitored by the goddess, who can bring her wrath down on any abuse. Examples include combs that allow shape changing ability; necklaces that allow the wearer to
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1 No. Appearing: 1-2 (1-2) 6 Save As: Fighter:3 30' (10') Morale: 8 1 barbed Treasure Nil tooth Type: 1-12 + poison Alignment: neutral
Giant Cone Snail (AC 1, HD 6, hp varies, MV 30' (10'), #A 1 barbed tooth, D 1-12 + poison, S F1 to F6, ML 7, AL C) These aquatic snails have a cone-shaped shell camouflaged by color and bits of sea floor glued to the exterior. They are hard to detect. They wait in ambush, spitting a long hypodermic tooth: a stricken victim must save versus poison or die.
Snakemen Armor Class: Hit Dice: Move: Attacks: Damage: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
These spiders live in fresh or salt water, using their silk to form underwater lairs and collecting bubbles of air in the hairs on their back to store in it or use for diving to depths.
7 (tough, scaly hide) 1+1 to 6+6 90' (30') unencumbered 1 weapon or bite 1-6 or by weapon 1-6 (5-30) Fighter:1 to 6 7 A Chaotic
Spider, Tarantula Armor Class: Hit Dice: Attacks: Damage: Movement: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
Snakemen (AC 7 (tough, scaly hide), HD 1+1 to 6+6, MV 90' (30') unencumbered, #A 1 weapon or bite, D 1-6 or by weapon, S F1 to F6, ML 7, AL C) Snakemen resemble giant snakes with arms. Like normal snakes. different types can can be found in: some spit poison, some have a poisonous bite, some can fly (glide by flattening their body and wafting on air currents), some constrict prey and so on. They all swim quiet well and can rapidly climb anything they can wrap their bodies around. They exert much lower ground pressure than creatures with legs, and can thus cross quicksand or mud or pressure-sprung traps with much greater ease. They are slower than creatures with legs, though, and being cold blooded they would suffer extra damage from cold based attacks (many rules sets do not consider this aspect of reptiles, insects and other cold blooded creatures; the author would increase damage by 1 point per hit die and reduce their saving throws versus cold, as a starter if he was going to account for it.) Some leaders have odd characteristics. Some have 4 arms and can fight with 2 shields and 2 onehanded weapons or 2 two-handed weapons, for example. Other interesting hybrids exist, but the author would rather not spoil one's creative fun by listing more ideas out.
Spider, Giant Diving Bell Armor Class: Hit Dice: Attacks: Damage: Movement:
3 or 1 8* to 16* 1 bite 2-16 or 4-32 plus poison 120' (40') 1-3 (1-3) Fighter: 4 or Fighter: 8 9 U Neutral
Giant Tarantula (AC 3 or 1, HD 8* or 16*, MV 120' (40'), TH0 12 or 9, #A 1 bite, D 2-16 or 4-32 + poison, S F 4 or F 8, ML 9, Al N) These giant hairy beasts prey on anything they can bite. They usually dwell on the ground or in heavy trees. Some will rub their legs together when irritated, discharging a cloud of hairs for some 5' per hit die, causing irritation and possible incapacitation (save versus poison unless a cloth faces mask is used to guard the nose, eyes and mouth) for 1d6 turns (10 - 60 minutes.) Spider, Giant Trapdoor Armor Class: Hit Dice: Attacks: Damage: Movement: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
5 4* 1 bite 1-8 + poison 120' (40') 1-3 (1-3) Fighter: 2 8 U Neutral
Giant Trap Door Spider (AC 5, HD 4*, MV 120' (40'), TH0 16, #A 1 bite, D 1-8 + poison, S F 2, ML 8, Al N)
5 No. Appearing: 1-3 (1-3) 4* Save As: Fighter: 2 1 bite Morale: 8 1-8 + poisonTreasure Type:U 120' (40') Alignment: Neutral
These arachnids dig tunnels and hide the entrance with a very clever door of silk lined with dirt, rocks, vegetation and other materials. They are very difficult to locate (as hard as a secret door). The trap door spider senses prey through vibrations an dashes out to attack (increase the chances of
Giant Diving Bell Spider (AC 5, HD 4*, MV 120' (40'), TH0 16, #A 1 bite, D 1-8 + poison, S F 2, ML 8, Al N)
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surprise), biting prey and trying to drag it back inside. Consider a natural roll of 20 for the spider a chance to drag prey inside. Chances of it dragging someone inside would be based on the spider's size versus the victim.
Turtlefolk Armor Class: Hit Dice: Attacks: Damage: Movement: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
Spider, Giant Wolf Armor Class: Hit Dice: Attacks: Damage: Movement: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
5 1* to 4* 1 bite 1-2, 1-4, 1-6 or 1-8: all + poison 120' (40') 2-12 (2-12) to 1-6 (1-6) Fighter: 1 to Fighter: 2 8 U Neutral
Turtlefolk (AC 3 for shell, HD 2, MV 60' (20') maximum, TH0 18, #A 1 weapon, D by weapon+1 for strength, S F2, ML 9, Al N) Turtlefolk leader (AC 1 for shell, HD 4, MV 60' (20') maximum, TH0 16, #A 1 weapon, D by weapon+2 for strength, S F4, ML 9, Al N)
Giant Wolf Spider (AC 5, HD 1* to 4*, MV 120' (40'), TH0 19 to 16, #A 1 bite, D 1-2, 1-4, 1-6, 1-8 (plus poison for all), S F 1 to F2, ML 8, Al N)
Humanoid turtles that walk on their hind legs and have short arms with long fingered hands on the front. They tend to be strong but slow. Their shell gives them the natural armor class of plate mail.
These aggressive brown spiders do not use webs. They actively chase prey in trees or on the ground. They often appear in packs, swarming victims: Hit Die 1 2 3 4
Turtle, Sea
Number Appearing 2-16 (2-16) 1-10 (1-10) 1-8 (1-8) 1-6 (1-6)
Armor Class: Hit Dice: Attacks: Damage: Movement: No. Appearing: Save As: Morale: Treasure Type: Alignment:
Those on the Dreaded islands are usually small (1 to 2 hit die.) Terror Bird Armor Class: Hit Dice: Attacks: Damage: Movement:
7 3 1 bite 1-8 120' (40')
3 2 1 weapon 2-7 or weapon +1 60' (20') 2-12 (5-30) Fighter: 2 9 A Neutral
3 1 to 6 1 bite 1-4, 1-6, 1-8, 1-10, 1-12, 1-12 120' (40') / 30' (10') 1-6 (1-6) Fighter: 1 to 3 7 Nil Neutral
Sea Turtle (AC 3, HD 1 to 6, MV 120' (40') / 30' (10'), TH0 19 to 14, #A 1 bite, D 1-4 to 1-12, S F 1 to F3, ML 7, Al N)
No. Appearing: 1-6 (2-12) Save As: Fighter: 2 Morale: 8 Treasure Type: Nil Alignment: Neutral
Sea turtles can reach large sizes. With their flippers and streamline shape they are agile swimmers, but slow on land. The massive prehistoric archelon (ruling turtle) was perhaps the largest.
Terror Bird (AC 7, HD 3, MV 120' (40'), TH0 17, #A 1 bite, D 1-8, S F3, M 8, AL N) Large prehistoric birds that could reach up to 900 pounds. They could not fly. Also called "axe beaks" due to the massive beak.
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