Endless Night: Introduction

ENDLESS NIGHT

A Fantasy Core Adventure

© Jerry Harris 2014

Published here as Open Game Content.

(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Index.)

Players Intro

Ref Intro

Refereeing Suggestions

Power Groups

First Floor Index

Second Floor Index

Notes

Adventure Introduction

I had a copy of Castle Amber back in the day.  I got to use it once, but only briefly and in a cursory manner.  The format was rather intriguing with the gigantic mansion, coupled with the portals to other lands, which made for a massive adventure setting.  I’ve since regretted losing it.  This is not a recreation, but certainly it was inspired by it.  The basic idea for this adventure was simply a haunted house that the adventurers would be attempting to exorcise, exorcise with extreme prejudice. 

The manor house in peril here is, of course, a faux Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle).  The layout is misleading at best, as the house is in the Astral Plane.  Landscapes within are highly influenced by whoever is there and not limited by the physicality of the actual house.  If nothing else, you can use the floorplan for your own haunted house, as it presented in a fairly realistic way.

While the house is only a physically desiccated ruin, once the characters enact the entry spell, they are effectively trapped inside.  They are transported into the idealized, dream-like house that exists in the Astral Plane.  I’m reluctant to recommend that players use their regular characters here, as attrition may be high and wild changes may occur to them within.  Have replacement characters ready to go before starting, because anyone killed out, reappears in the real world and will be inaccessible. 

This adventure is, I think, suitable for Fantasy Core (Medieval-ish setting), Pulp Fantasy Core (1930’s), and Cyber-Pulp Fantasy Core (near future).  There will be anachronistic elements to the house, regardless of the background setting.  Heck, mix and match characters from totally different eras and settings.  The party should definitely have a couple of members who can interact with the supernatural (Wizard, Paladin, Occultist, Oriental Shaman, Hoodoo, or even a Celestial Enforcer).  A few characters with high Will Saves are also preferred.