Dark Continent Redux: The Prison

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

Forbidden City Index

The Prison

2 XP for destroying the red crystal here. 

[Here’s the original layout image.]

Essentially the Bastille.  Entry is made via a drawbridge.  The building is made up of eight close-packed towers, around 24 m (80 ft) high.  Six of the towers form the outer courtyard and are filled with prison cells.  The other two towers have a separate drawbridge and courtyard and are there for the jailers and the armory.  Beneath the inner courtyard is the dungeon, which features the worst conditions in the prison, filled with slimes and oozes.

The good news is that currently the prison is almost devoid of inhabitants.  The infamous dungeon has collapsed into the giant cesspool beneath the prison.  The bad news is that a collection of disgusting slime-based creatures now rule the structure.  A darkened force field covers the top of the castle, preventing flying in or scaling over the walls (and to protect the sunlight-averse creatures inhabiting the prison).  The drawbridge is invitingly open. 

Unfortunately guarding the drawbridge are the prison’s only sentient occupants.  Tarpit and Mucus of the Demon Host will fling their special bodily fluids down on the group as they pass between them.  The interior of the towers are ruined and blocked up.  Only the interior parapets between the towers are passable.  If members of the party manage to climb, fly up to them, or effectively attack them at range, they will disengage and move to another tower to continue their attack at an inopportune moment for the Characters.  In any case, they’ll stick to the towers or the offices.

Mucus

HD 5 (d8), Hp 40, AC 10* (*See Below)

Fort +8, Ref +1, Will +1

Melee: Acid Slime Punch +9 to hit 2d6 + -1 AC to worn non-magical armor.

Ranged: Fling Mucus +5 to hit 2d6 + DC 12 Fort Sv or sickened 2 rds, M.

Special Defense: Any non-magical melee weapon scoring damage on a hit is covered in acid and will break on its next hit.

Special Weakness: If Mucus takes 10 or more points of damage from one attack, he collapses into a slimy puddle.  He’ll reform in 2 rds.  If other materials, such as sand, water, oil, etc. are mixed into the puddle, he’ll be permanently disrupted.

Tarpit

HD 5 (d8), Hp 40, AC 10 (See Below), Slow-Last in Init

Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +1

Melee: Sticky Slam +5 to hit 2d6 + DC 12 Str check or stuck to ground (can still attack those in reach and defend).  Requires another Str check or help to get loose. 

Ranged: Fling Hot Tar +5 to hit 2d6, M

Special Defense: Sticky Body-On any melee hit on Tarpit, the weapon will stick to him.  It is a DC 12 Str check to pull it out.

Special Weakness: Every other rd, Tarpit must stop attacking and shake his internal furnace.  If his fire goes out, he solidifies.  If the furnace hit on a Called Shot and 10 points of damage is taken, he’ll explode in 2 rds for 3d6 damage to everyone in S range, covering everything in hot tar.

Description: A slow, waddling, pot-bellied tar-covered man.  His belly glows with an internal fire.

The Outer Courtyard is covered by a blanket of Yellow Mold.  The Characters will have to make their own path or go around it.  The buildings in the courtyard are completely ruined. 

Yellow Mold

If disturbed, a 5-foot square of this mold bursts forth with a cloud of poisonous spores. All within 10 feet of the mold must make a DC 12 Fort Save or take 1d6 damage.  Those failing will need to make a DC 18 Fort Save next rd or fall unconscious for 1 turn. Fire destroys Yellow Mold, and sunlight renders it dormant. 

The three-story Office structure can be reached via a precarious set of stone stairs in the Outer Courtyard.  The security door at the top has been broken down.  Just inside the darkened entrance is a large hole in the floor and a steep drop to the bottom (DC 12 Ref Sv or fall 3d6 dam + Stun 1 rd).  The offices are all ruined and on a very shaky foundation.  The internal stairs have crumbled away, so access to the lower floors will require a rope and climbing.  The roof is missing, allowing the Demon Host (and the Characters) to gain easy overhead access.  Any combat on the second or third floors will potentially collapse the floor beneath the combatants.  Roll 1d10 each rd, on a 1, it collapses.  (DC 18 Ref Sv or 3d6/3^rd floor or 2d6/2^nd floor damage + Stun 1 rd).  The top floors at least give a good look at the contents of the Inner Courtyard.

The bottom floor is a slimy, wet mess.  An Ochre Jelly hangs from the ceiling, looking to drop on the unwary.  Meanwhile, a Gray Ooze will attack from the floor.  A black puddle surrounds the open exit door to the Inner Courtyard.  Of course, it’s actually a Black Pudding awaiting someone dumb enough to step in it.        

Ochre Jelly

HD 6 (d10), Hp 40, AC 10* (magic weapons strike as normal, slashing weapons do no damage, but split the Jelly in half, each with half hp, up to 4 separate Jellies)

Fort +8, Ref –3, Will –3

Melee: Slam +5 to hit 2d4+3 + DC 12 Ref Sv or grappled -1 to worn non-magical Armor (1d6 acid damage if not wearing armor), next rd, automatic acid damage, until scraped off (1d4 damage to victim from scraping) 

Stealth +5 (Camouflage) Hanging from ceiling

Bane: Will retreat from fire and magic attacks

Gray Ooze

HD 3 (d10), Hp 15, AC 10* (magic weapons strike as normal, wooden weapons dissolve on contact, metal weapons break on a 1 in 4 upon contact)

Fort +6, Ref –4, Will –4

Melee: Slam +3 to hit 1d6+1 + DC 12 Ref Sv or -1 to worn non-magical Armor (1d6 acid damage if not wearing armor)

Stealth: +5 Camouflage among stones

Bane: Will retreat from fire and magic attacks

Black Pudding

HD 10 (d10), Hp 50, AC 10* (magic weapons strike as normal, any other type of weapon dissolves or breaks on contact)

Fort +9, Ref –2, Will –2

Melee: Slam +8 to hit 2d6+4 + DC 18 Ref Sv or -1 to worn non-magical Armor (2d6 acid damage if not wearing armor)

Ranged: Acid Spit +8 to hit 2d6 + DC 18 Ref Sv or -1 to worn non-magical Armor, S

Stealth +5 in darkness

Bane: Will retreat from fire and magic attacks

The Inner Courtyard is a pool of Green Slime in which the skeletons of a multitude of bodies can be seen floating.  The altar stands in the center of the pool with the glowing red crystal in it.  Basically invisible to distant observation, the altar platform is encased within a Gelatinous Cube.  The Cube will need to be dealt with before the altar crystal can be destroyed.  (Shooting at the crystal, after the Cube is killed, would be an AC 12 target shooting, assuming the shooter isn’t in combat.)

Taking the red crystal off the altar (which shatters it), or just smashing it, will cause a blinding flash.  The force field overhead will disappear.  Assuming its daytime, the sunlight will promptly destroy the Green Slime and Yellow Mold of the prison.  Outside, the river island will be vaguely visible (though not enterable).  If this is the final altar, the island will be completely visible and can be entered.     

Green Slime

A flesh-eating slime.  It automatically dissolves wood and organic items touching it in 2 rds.  Non-magical metal items are corroded on 3 rds.  In either case, it must be scraped or washed off immediately to avoid ruining the item.  On exposed flesh, it does 1d6 damage each rd until scraped or washed off.  Anything that deals cold or fire damage, sunlight, or a remove disease spell destroys a patch of green slime. It does not harm stone.

Gelatinous Cube

HD 4 (d10), Hp 20, AC 10 (Natural)

Fort +9, Ref –4, Will –4

Melee: Slam +4 to hit 1d6 + DC 12 Fort Sv or Stun 1 Turn, stunned victims are then Engulfed the next rd and absorbed within 1 turn (6 damage each rd).

Stealth +5 (Cubes are nearly transparent)

Engulf: With a successful Stealth check on an unsuspecting victim, the person has inadvertently walked into the Cube.  Automatic hit and 6 damage, DC 18 Fort Sv or stunned.

Bane: Will retreat from fire and magic attacks