Dark Continent Redux: The Tower

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 Tower

3 XP for climbing the tower and defeating the Thunderbird (2 XP for killing it elsewhere).  Frankly, the party shouldn’t go anywhere near its nest, but there is a possibility they’ll have motivation, such as a couple of captured party members.  The Thunderbird will embed (forget escaping) anyone captured in its crap and will go back for seconds.  It won’t consume captured prey immediately.  Give the party at least a day’s chance to affect a rescue. 

This massive structure sits in the center of the city in the middle of the Grand Avenue.  It can be seen from anywhere inside the city (unlike the real Eiffel Tower).  Unfortunately, what lives up there can do likewise and it has a good set of eyes.  This is the nest of the Thunderbird, a very large man-eating avian. The group should get a glimpse of the creature feeding on a wandering elephant beforehand as a warning not to stray out in the open too long.  Flying objects will immediately attract its attention.

The Tower stands 1,063 ft high, about 81 building levels, as per Wikipedia.  It is also encrusted in massive chunks of bird crap, which gets thicker and fresher, the higher you go.  A colony of giant beetles exists just off this fodder.  There are three main levels, connected by a series of open stairs.  Narrow gangways cross the width with very impressive and relatively unobstructed downward views (in other words, big drops).  A winding spiral stairwell comes to the top third level.  Here is the Thunderbird’s nest, which is filled with human bones and shiny items like gold, gems, jewels, and even magic items.

When his expedition reached the city, Kurtz managed to fight off the bird and save the rest of the party.  Since then, it has avoided attacking anything radiating powerful magic, such as Kurtz and his Demon Host.  The Character party will have to earn that respect.  I dislike random encounter tables, so I would say if the Characters are wandering around in the open, especially on the road, inside the city, they will attract this creature’s attention.  That there’s nothing else moving inside the city should be a clue.  (There shouldn’t be any other encounters in the city, except for at the specific encounter areas as written.  But you want more encounters, perhaps the Thunderbird hasn’t depopulated the city and sleeps much of the time.)  If the Thunderbird loses half its hp, it will fly off in search of easier prey.  Only at its nest will it fight to the death. 

Lower Observation: Encrusted with old crud, somewhat disgusting.  4 Giant Beetles are scavenging around and will attack intruders.  

Mid Observation Deck: Covered in thick fresh crap.  DC 12 Fort Sv or sickened for 1 Turn (all abilities and skills go to 0 bonus).  10 Giant Beetles will rush to attack.  Anyone taking max damage in an attack, must make a DC 12 Ref Sv or slip on the crap and go right off the Tower (requiring an XP save).     

Thunderbird Nest: It’s covered in a thick layer of fresh straw and grass.  The Thunderbird will likely be asleep and won’t awaken unless forced to, and boy will it be angry.

Treasure cache (all scattered): 2000 gp, 100 gems (50 gp apiece), 50 jewels (100 gp apiece), +1 Dagger, +2 Longsword, +1 Shield, +2 Longbow, Slayer Arrow +10 to hit, +10 damage (will break on any hit), Wand of Fireballs (12 charges, 6 + Spellcheck fire damage + 1d6 continuing damage until extinguished, 20-ft. radius. (Ref Sv ½ damage) Medium range).

There are many ruined mundane items buried in the Thunderbird’s nest, including armor and supplies, but all ruined.  These were taken off of members of Kurtz’s expedition.  Perhaps some notes about Kurtz, the city, and temple could be found. 

Giant Beetle

HD 2 (d8+4), Hp 13, AC 16 (Natural)

Fort +5, Ref +0, Will +0

Melee: Bite +2 to hit 1d4+1

Acid Spray: DC 12 Fort Sv or 1d4+2 points of acid, S

Thunderbird

HD 12 (d8), Hp 96, AC 15 (Natural)

Fort +18, Ref +13, Will +9

Melee: Bite +10 to hit 3d12 or 2 x Claws +10 to hit 3d6, if both Claws hit the same opponent, they are grappled.  DC 18 Str or Escape Artist check to get free, however the Thunderbird will try to take its prey up to its nest for later consumption.  A captured person might not want to get free while in flight.

Flight