Dark Continent Redux: Leon Falls

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

Interior Index

Leon Falls

1 XP for getting up the Falls.

They’re named after Emperor Leon, ruler of the Commonwealth.  There is an old native temple grounds on the shore at the top of the Falls.  Anything valuable there has been long since looted.  Only the sturdiness of the stone structure has kept it intact at all.  This is where the Characters need to go to continue with their mission.  The only question is how they get there.

As long as they stay at Fort Livingston, the group won’t be attacked.  If it seems like the Players actually want to stay and wait for reinforcements as ordered, they are immediately assaulted by 20 Ape-Men and 5 Chimp-Men on Giant Bats.  They should get some warning and not hit by all of them at once.  Their way back to Fort Stanley will be cut off by the rest of the monkey troops. 

As mentioned, there are 6 Giant Bats without riders, roosting on the Fort’s towers.  Give any Ranger or any Character with some animal handling in their background a DC 12 vs Wis Bonus + ½ level to fly the animal.  DC 18 for everyone else, though a knowledgeable Character can add their Wis Bonus to the attempt. 

It’ll take 3 rds to fly up to the temple.  6 Chimp-Men on Giant Bats will attack them in the air.  It’ll just be ranged combat between the riders.  The bats won’t engage each other.  It’s a Called Shot to just hit the rider (the Chimp-Men won’t bother with that).  Anyone taking max damage on an attack must make a DC 12 Ref Sv or they will be doing some skydiving.  (Remember, Characters can use their XP to improbably save their asses, though with consequences.)  Of course, the Characters could fly anywhere they want with their bats, but unless they go to temple, they’re going to just get lost.  And don’t even think about letting them keep them.  They fly off as soon as the Characters get off them.       

More probably, the Characters might want to run for the Falls.  Nearly all of the Ape-Men are engaged in attacking the Fort, but 5 Ape-Men near the rear will break off after them.  3 Chimp-Men on Bats will also attack from the air.  They will harass the Characters, but not fight to the death to stop them.

At the Falls, the group has a couple of choices.  The Portage Stairs are by the side of the Falls and take a winding route up for about 4 rds, if walking fast.  They’re also guarded by 4 Ape-Men Leaders at the top, who will be bombarding the Characters with small boulders the whole way.  They can only attack like this once every other rd.  So two attack, then the other two.  Those not attacking will be out of sight to be counterattacked.  4Chimp-Men Captains will swing down on vines to attack them as well.  Likewise, two will swing by and attack, then the other two swing-attack from the other direction. 

The other option is finding the Hidden Passage.  It’s behind the Falls and a DC 12 Find check to locate them.  It’s wet and dark.  At the back of the cave are stone handholds that lead up to the surface, taking about 6 rds.  8 Giant Spiders nest here.  They’ll come at the Characters from hiding, one at time, mostly while they’re trying to climb up.  It’s a DC 12 Ref not to fall (1d10 damage per 10’ up) whenever they take a hit.  There’s a ledge at the top of the handholds with a stone door set into a small cave wall.  It’s a DC 12 Str check to force it open and it leads directly out to the temple area.          

Giant Spider

HD 2, Hp 8, AC 14 (Natural)

Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +0

Melee: Bite +4 to hit 1d6 + Poison DC 12 Fort Sv or sickened 1 turn (all bonuses and skill go to 0)

Stealth +4 (DC 16 to Detect)