Fantasy Core RPG
© Jerry Harris 2013
Published here as Open Game Content.
(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Index.)
Jianghu Setting
Sample Adventure “Dark Waters Have Unknown Depths”
Part 4
Never confront a demon in his lair.
The Oni’s Temple (2 XP)
What was once a modest walled temple is now in sad ruins, partly buried. The walls are actually intact. There is still an entry arch and a courtyard filled with partly buried statues. At the far end is the main worship hall, curiously clear dust and debris. A girl’s screams can be heard coming from the hall, along with the shouts of another girl and a man.
The 9’ tall walls may be scaled, though they’ll collapse if two people are on top at the same time. No damage, but immediately 4 Terra Cotta Statues will surprise attack from the sands, with another 6 attacking the next rd. If the characters don’t collapse the wall, they will reach the front porch of the main hall unmolested. However once there, a bright blue Kappa (the Oni’s servant) will appear, howl, and then attacks proceed as below.
Going through the archway, the Kappa attacks the party from the rear. It will use all of it’s tricks to harass the characters, while 2 Terra Cotta Statues activate and attack each rd, up to 10 statues total. The Kappa will try to escape inside if it is hurt or the statues are all destroyed. The statues cease attacking once the party is inside.
The large double doors on the porch have been shattered. Inside the gloomy chamber is a single large room. There are no other entries or exits from it. There are four large defaced and decapitated statues on display. The defiled nature of the temple ruins any supernatural detection abilities. A disheveled girl is laying on the ground before the statues in shock. Muffled voices can be heard, seemingly coming from inside the statues. Suddenly a booming voice rings out, “You’ve interrupted my playtime. You’re going to have to pay for that.”
The girl says her name is Ling from Shinju-Mata village and that the demon put the others in the statues. She doesn’t know where he is. Much like the Terra Cotta Statues, these statues of the gods need only be struck hard to crack open. Roll 1d4 for each. On a 1, the large, horned, blue Oni appears from the inside and attacks, but this is an illusion projected by the Kappa if he escaped, or another blue Kappa. Either way, it fights to the death. The occupants found in the statues (whether a Kappa is there or not), in order, are the village’s golden idol, Shin the raider leader, Aoi a girl from the village, and Ling, again.
Now, just to make this interesting, I’m not specifying which Ling is real. That’s up to you. Aoi will not be able to discern the difference between them as the Oni has thoroughly read Ling’s mind. Taking both girls outside will allow for detection spells to work, but if the girls are next to each other, the Oni will show himself and take Ling hostage. He’ll try to negotiate his escape while taking Ling with him. Any Terra Cotta statues left will be there to support him. Of course, the players will think up something else to try, so be on your toes.
Aoi is suitable as a replacement character or even a supporting one if armed. Shin will want to escape, but won’t try to do so while in the desert. (To say the least, he now knows better than to run off into the desert.) He’ll be willing to fight if faced with an enemy that may do him worse harm, such as say the Triads or Imperial soldiers. Ling would be a fairly desperate choice for combat.
The Oni’s horn will come off with some determined hacking. It will glow and radiate powerful magical energy. If held by a magic user, they’ll feel a surge of energy. In game terms, any spell they cast will be at DC 10 while in possession of it. Of course, this power fades after a day, which the characters will find out. Also, not all Oni horns should have this property.
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