Fantasy Core RPG: Jianghu Setting-Monsters-Dragons

Fantasy Core RPG

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

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Jianghu Setting 

Monsters-Dragons

The dragons are in a good mood today.  Tomorrow, who knows?

There are dragons.  Four mighty and just dragons serve the Celestial Emperor.  They rule over the Seas, the Sky, the Land, and the Heavens.  They can bring rain, fair winds, agricultural bounty, and good fortune.  However, they are also in charge of natural disasters, such as drought, flood, hurricanes, earthquakes, and ill favor.  These are often seen as warnings or punishments from the Celestial Emperor.  An actual manifestation of any of these entities to anyone may be considered the strongest of omens or messages. 

What you ask is impossible.  It would be easier to ask one of the Emperor’s Dragons for this favor.

It is not unheard of for the exceptionally brave (or desperate) to undertake a dangerous journey to the palaces of these dragons to ask for their favor or knowledge, usually in return for service (as a precursor or in the future).  The Dragon of the Seas lives in the lowest depths of the ocean, the Sky Dragon in the eye of a hurricane, the Land Dragon lives under a volcano, and the Dragon of the Heavens lives on the moon (which can be reached via the Celestial Floating Bridge).  Obtaining the favor of all of these dragons might allow one to gain the Mandate of Heaven and become Emperor or perhaps immortality.

Of course, few ever actually seen these magnificent creatures, only the effects of their passing.  Generally, we refer to these people as “survivors.”

There are also lesser dragons, who rule some small domains on the earth.  They are always guarding something, such as a location or their treasure.  Their dispositions, goals, and abilities vary widely.  Beneficial ones are generally venerated, while dangerous ones are placated with sacrifices.  If they become too much of a menace, heroes will be needed to deal with them. 

In the Shang-tu area, there is a helpful (though very shy) dragon, Gemma, who guards the temple at Mount Tien, and a greedy, materialistic one, Akana, who lives in So Lake and occasionally attacks ships and the docks.  Sailors often throw a handful of gold overboard before starting a voyage across the lake, while the monks at the temple offer daily prayers to the reclusive dragon there.

Typical Lesser Dragon

HD 15, Hp 60, AC 25       

Fort +10, Ref +5, Will +5

Melee: 4 attacks per rd

2 Claw +10 to hit, 1d8 each

1 Tail +5 to hit, 1d10

1 Bite +7 to hit, 3d18

Special Powers

Still waters; the dragon sleeps.  Restless waters; the dragon stirs.  A storm on the lake; stay on land.

Akana: Wind Blast and Tidal Surge: 10d6, usually used on ships and dock buildings, once per day.

I saw the dragon once.  I think?

Gemma: Forgetful Gas Cloud: Lose all memory of the last hour and blackout 1 turn, DC 18 Will Sv, 40’ area, 3 times a day.

Can fly

Shapechange into a humanoid form.  As Gemma is actually taking the physical form of another, it is impossible to physically detect the disguise, short of magical means.  However, if physically harmed Gemma must make a DC 12 Will Sv to avoid reverting to his true form.

And there are indeed stranger things upon this earth.

Demi-human communities do not exist in this part of the world, but a few random, extraordinary travelers are not unheard of.  Likewise, Humanoid tribes (Orcs and such) are not present, but Yomi might have a few in his service for expendable purposes.  Other monsters might be natural creatures who have mutated in strange environments.  Creatures could be also be created by magical experimentation or even divine enchantment (who will be there for a specific reason).

[Jianghu man!  57 posts later.  I apologize for all of the formatting issues.  I just couldn’t get a consistent look, and I don’t know why.  Then there was the out-of-order mis-post that I didn’t notice for two days.  I would have taken it down, but it had gotten more hits than the usual daily post. 

Playtester Evan asked me why I didn’t stat-up the Emperor.  Honestly, it didn’t occur to me at the time.  The Governor, his ministers, or Yong were supposed to be the top-level villains of the setting (depending player choices).  I see the Emperor as something of a demi-god with divine weapons (or a mere figurehead man defended by a demi-god).  For the characters to face him directly, they’re going to need to be near-deities themselves with similar weapons.  That goes well beyond the scope of these simple rules.

I am still working on the Cyber-Pulp Fantasy Core setting.  I’ve made some poor choices with my priorities lately.  Also, there’s been some feature creep added to my original idea and a couple of blind alleys that didn’t work out.  In the meantime, I’ve got some classic material (read: old crap reformatted, essentially filler) that I’ll be putting up.]