A Fantasy Core Adventure
© Jerry Harris 2016
(This link will take you to the
Fantasy Core Playtest Rules.)
His Intended
1 XP for saving the Intended. 1 XP for saving the Dragon Bones.
Kurtz’s townhouse in Home Station is in the fashionable
section of town, amongst other stately homes.
The Baron is a cousin of Kurtz’s fiancée, his “Intended.” (Name her as you will.) The Baron cautions the group to use the
utmost discretion around her. The Intended
may be told that they are off to join him, but not their true mission or
Kurtz’s current status. “She does not
know, but I think she suspects.” They
are there gain her favor, which will aid in replacing the group’s travel
documents and also to gain some intelligence on Kurtz. She was in constant contact with him until
recently.
It is lavish two-story building. There are 4 native servants scurrying
about. Inside, he introduces them to
the Intended, Mrs. Kurtz. She is a fine, elegant woman in the mold of a
Jane Austen heroine, but obviously burdened with many troubles. She demurs at being called Mrs. Kurtz as the
wedding has not yet taken place. The
Characters are introduced as associates who have volunteered to join Kurtz in
the field, immediately gaining her favor towards them.
At dinner, the Intended will offer whatever help she can by
way of information and influence. She
can give them some backstory. Her and
Mr. Kurtz (how she refers to him) had met long ago in the old country. Later, Kurtz had made his fortune from
finding the Dragon Boneyard. He proposed
to her and brought her to his station, a plantation deep in the Interior, south
of Inner Station. He always seemed very
troubled and distracted. It was something
about the dragon bones. He finally sent
her away to Home Station, before finishing the estate house, before even the
wedding.
Kurtz has provided for the Intended well, but has not
personally come to visit in over a year.
She has several of Kurtz’s progressively insane letters that he wrote to
her from the field, which have recently stopped coming. He found, deep in the jungle, a “Forbidden City ,” filled with strong magic power. “He said he felt safe there.” Soon after, the uprising started. “He’s been fighting it, as everyone
knows.” She’s desperately worried about
him. All she has heard lately is that a
member of his original expedition to the Forbidden City
has returned to Home Station, but has been committed to the asylum. “I should like to visit him, but the Baron
says the man says such disturbing things about my beloved, that I should stay
away.” The Baron looks around at the
Characters and nods. She’s worried that
even after the uprising is put down, Kurtz won’t send for her. “Perhaps he has become too enamored of his
jungle to ever leave it.”
It’s all too sad, and about to get worse as uninvited guests
arrive. Perhaps it was the appearance of
the Characters or just coincidental timing, but Kurtz has ordered his townhouse
raided. He wants his bride-to-be and a
large dragon bone in the basement. There
are two groups penetrating the house.
Demon Host Gas and 2 Native Warriors are tasked with
snatching the Intended, while Rockman
and a Witch Doctor will break
into the basement vault. The natives
will fight to the death, but the Demon Hosts will not, either retreating or
teleporting depending on their condition.
The butler is killed answering the door, as the two groups
enter, but he’ll give out a scream. Rockman
and the Witch Doctor head immediately to the basement, as Gas and his warriors
make for the dining room. The Baron will
protect his favorite cousin with his life (but don’t get him killed off, just
knocked unconscious if brought to 0 hp).
The other 3 servants are also
in the dining room with the group. They
love their sad, kind mistress and will defend her as useful distractions (AC
10, Hp 2, To Hit +0, All Saves +0, 1 damage).
The Intended does not fight and will pass out if grabbed.
In 3 rds, the townhouse is rocked, as the basement vault is
blown open. The Baron will say that they
must be after the dragon bone below. The
Witch Doctor will take the bone and run out of the house and disappear into the
night 2 rds later. Rockman will then assist
in trying to take the Intended. Their
goal is to take the Intended, not fight it out with the Characters: just grab
her and run. They will simply retreat if
the Characters are stalemating them from taking her (say 3 rds). If the Intended is captured, give the party
one, quick opportunity (2 rds) to rescue her outside, before she is lost in the
night. (If one of the Players says,
“Shoot the hostage,” reach out and physically hit them.) The Demon Hosts will also teleport if they
take severe damage.
Assuming the Intended is not captured, the Baron will insist
that she move into the Governor’s Palace Complex with him. (If she’s taken, we’ll see her again much
later, but frankly, it would probably be better if she isn’t taken. Give the Characters a good chance to save
her.) He will also mention that there
have been several robberies lately of dragon bone artifacts in the city. The Intended gives the party access to townhouses’
ruined vault, specifically each is given a magic weapon or armor (or better
than the one they have) or a magic wand (Fireball or Lightning, 10 charges). She also gives them her engagement ring and
tells the party to give it to Kurtz. He
must return it to her himself if he still loves her.
Everyone will leave together to escort her and any servants to
the Baron’s palace apartment and then carriage will take the Characters back to
their hotel. The Baron, somewhat shaken
once he’s away from his cousin, thanks the group and says he’ll contact them in
the morning at the hotel.
Rockman
HD 5 (d12), Hp 60, AC 18* (Magic to hit, but see below)
Fort +8, Ref +1, Will +1
Melee: Double
Bladed Sword +9 to hit 1d10+4
Ranged: Thrown
Spinning Sword +5 to hit 2d10+4, M, returns when thrown
Special Weakness: Called Shot to the eyes, can be hit by normal
weapons. One eye destroyed -5 to Melee
and Ranged To Hit. Both eyes, blinded,
To hit for Melee or Ranged goes to 0. If
blinded, will throw Sword when frustrated, upon any miss, sword hits him and he
takes full damage.
Teleport Contingency:
Upon being reduced to 10 or less hp or losing 1 eye, Rockman teleports away on
his turn. He will be fully healed for their
next meeting.
Description: A
man with rock-covered skin.
Gas
HD 5 (d6), Hp 20, AC 10* (Magic or fire to hit, See Below)
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +1
Melee: None
Ranged: Spew Gas
+5 to hit, S, chose 1 type of gas attack or roll 1d4
Sleep Gas: DC 12 Fort Sv or knocked out 1d4 rds.
Hallucinogenic Gas: DC 12 Fort Sv or confusion 1d4
rds (attack allies)
Corrosive Gas: DC 12 Fort Sv or 2d6 damage + -1 AC to
worn non-magical armor.
Obscuring Gas: Everything disappears within C range,
stunned 1 rd from coughing.
Special Defense:
Gas can change to and from gaseous form at will, but cannot attack in that
form.
Special Weakness: Gas is highly flammable and takes double damage
from fire. If 10 or more points of fire
damage are taken in a single rd, Gas explodes for 2d6 damage to everyone in S
range. She reforms in 2 rds.
Teleport Contingency:
Upon being reduced to 5 or less hp or taking fire damage, Gas teleports away on
her turn. Her Hp will be healed for next
meeting.
Description: A
woman clothed in fog. She somewhat reeks
of methane, which should be a clue as to her fire vulnerability.
The Baron
+3 Dex, Int, Cha, +1 Str, Con, Wis ,
HD 5 (d8), Hp 30, AC 16 (+1 Stylish Leather Vest), Enhanced
Init +3
Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +2
Melee: 2 x
attacks/rd +1 Rapier +9 to hit 1d6+4
Ranged: Pistol
Bow +8 to hit 1d4 + Poison DC 12 Fort Sv or sleep 1 turn, S (4 darts)
+5 Detection (Traps, ambushes), Detection
(Trapped items), Find (Secret doors
and items)
+3 Stealth (Hiding, sneaking), Pick
Locks, Escape Artist, Forgery, Pick Pockets, Disarm Traps
+5 Charm, Negotiate
[You may be wondering what Character Class the Baron
is. So am I. The Baron has a colorful background. Some sort of finesse Knight/Thief combo. No, the Players can’t use it.]
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