Dark Continent Redux: Home Station and Central Station

Dark Continent Redux

A Fantasy Core Adventure

© Jerry Harris 2016

Published here as Open Game Content.

(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Playtest Rules.)

Dark Continent Index

Home Station and Central Station

Obligatory 

His Intended

Asylum

Favored

Riot/Afterward

Portage

Central Station

Amusements/Afterward

Home Station General Description

The group arrives at the colony’s capital, Home Station, via an ocean-going vessel.  The mighty Africannes River flows wide and deep astride the city.  A ship can be seen near the mouth of the river firing flaming pitch into the jungle by a catapult.  There is no discernible target.  It appears to be a somewhat senseless act. 

The group’s ship enters into a natural harbor.  The docks are teeming with activity from a multitude of native laborers and colonial traders from several countries.  Home Station is displayed on the hills about them.  Masses of native workers hustle on new large building projects.  It is a fine representation of a city from the Commonwealth, seemingly transported here, to the coast of a jungle.  Given the hive of activity, you’d never know there was a native uprising going on, though there are many soldiers milling about casually guarding the docks and streets. 

On the overlooking hill are the gleaming, white walls and tall towers of the Governor’s Palace Complex.  Much of the nobility and aristocracy of Home Station live there.  (I use the mental image of Vatican City as a model.)  Within the walls are large amounts of intrigue between the various power groups: colonial government, Commonwealth officials and examiners, religious officials, bankers, merchants, and foreign agents.  These sort of challenges aren’t covered or detailed in this adventure, but Ref’s are encouraged to develop them as they see fit.

Defensive walls surround the entire city.  Just outside them, the Characters are immediately reminded that they are not in the old country.  A tremendous slum of native hovels squats about the walls.  They easily double the population inside the walls.  All native laborers, who are not wearing a Commonwealth seal, are forced out of the city after dark under pain of imprisonment.  The main city gates are very busy at sun up and sun down.  This is a security issue that has been implemented since the rebellion began.  Beyond the slums are mansions and plantations.  Beyond that, nothing but a misty, green hell, an impenetrable jungle.