CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE-Sample Adventure-Coffee Shop Part 3

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

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

Overview Index 

Adventure Index 

XP Awards

3 XP if the Puppet was killer and has been dispatched.

2 XP for dealing with the Puppet if he wasn’t the killer.

1 XP each for dealing with the Cyber-Zombies, Robot Arms, and Android.

Neural-mancer (Meat Puppet)

HD 2 (d6), Hp 12, AC 12 (+2 Kevlar shirt)

Fort +0, Ref +0, Will +6

Melee: Shock Wand +2 to hit, DC 18 Fort Sv or KO 1 turn, 10 uses

Ranged: Shock Gun +2 to hit, DC 12 Fort Sv KO 1 turn, C, 10 shot clip

Immunities: Sleep, fear, and paralysis effects.

Fearless: Immune to the effects of any supernatural fright.

Infravision

Stealth +2

Hacking +13 (+4 Int, +5 Level, +4 Data Jack)

Hardware +9 (+4 Int, +5 Level)

Occult Knowledge: +9

Healing: (DC 12 Spellcheck) May fully heal all hp damage up to 4 x a day, including himself and those below 0 hp, but not yet dead.

Spell Check +9 (+4 Int, +5 Level).  Save Against DC 17, allowed 3 Failures in turn/encounter.  Listed spells are just his typical ones used.

1^st Level (DC 13 to cast)

Charm Person: Makes one person your friend. 5 turns. Will Sv

Magic Missile: 13 damage + Knocked down, Ref Sv all damage

3^rd Level (DC 15 to cast)

Hold Person: Paralyzes one humanoid for 5 rds. Will Sv

Robot Arms (2)

HD 2 (d12), Hp 12, AC 16 (Armored), however they are plugged into the wall and are completely vulnerable at the plug (DC 12 Called Shot or just unplug it).  (An attacking player has to ask whether they’re plugged in or not.) 

Fort +3, Ref +0, Will +0

Melee: 2 x Punch +4 to hit, 1d8+2

Both Arms may attack the same opponent, Grab +4, if both Arms hit, DC 18 Str or Escape Artist, or opponent is held securely.

(DC 18 Hack to shutdown or control)

Cyber-Zombies (8)

HD 2 (d12), Hp 12, AC 12 (Natural), Called Shot (12 from C range, 18 from further) to hit Com earpiece, which immediately shuts down the zombie. 

Fort +3, Ref +0, Will +0

Melee: Punch +4 to hit, 1d6+2

Grapple +4 to hit, DC 12 Str Check (or Escape Artist), up to 4 Zombies may attack the same opponent, add +2 to hit and to Str Check for each additional attacker.  Normally, opponents are held until the Android comes along to shock the grappled.  Alternately, one of the grapplers can automatically Punch the grappled for subdual damage.

(DC 12 to hack a Cyber-Zombie and shut it down.)

Combat Android

HD 5 (d8), Hp 40, AC 15 (+2 Kevlar shirt, +3 Dex) Enhanced Init. +3

Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +1

Melee: Shock Wand +6 to hit, DC 12 Fort Sv or stun 1 turn, 10 uses

Ranged: Shock Gun +8 to hit, DC 12 Fort Sv KO 1 turn, C, 10 shot clip

Immune to illusions, psychic attacks, and gas.

Cybernetic Eyes

Cybernetic Ears

Data Jack +1

Memory Implant
(DC 18 to hack the Android and shut it down.)

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE-Sample Adventure-Coffee Shop Part 2

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

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

Overview Index 

Adventure Index 

The Lab

While the rear sounds and looks like a kitchen, once past the doors, it’s all a holo illusion.  The back is a very unsanitary lab/operating room.  Drugged patrons are brought here, have their brains wiped, and are inserted with the control earpiece.  Right now, there’s one female body strapped down to an operating table, basically brain-dead, but still alive.  

The Neural-mancer Meat Puppet is here working away on a computer with the Soul Crystal hooked into it.  He doesn’t seem to notice the characters, however a pair of Robotic Arms on either side of the door immediately attack (DC 12 Detection).  The Puppet then swings into action, trying to subdue the characters.  (Remember, he can completely heal himself up to 4 times.)  The Puppet should be taunting the characters as well, the arrogant, little prick that he is.  (Note: The characters will immediately recognize the Neural-mancer.  He’s a famous serial killer with an enormous bounty on his head.) 

Outcome

The Puppet fights to the death and makes no attempt to escape.  Upon death, the clone suddenly changes form into an entirely different person.  The video screen comes on a rd later with the real Neural-mancer.  “Oh, that’s what happened to him.  Bah, didn’t think much of his research anyway.” 

At this point, the characters might wish to interact with him.  The real thing is a lot more reasonable (the Puppets tend to retain their host’s personality).  He’ll want to know who they are and will congratulate them.  Perhaps he’ll want to find the characters and hire them someday.  Perhaps, he’ll mark them for revenge sometime if they cross his schemes again.

There’s a text message from Virtual Lila shortly afterward.  It announces the transfer of the remainder of the job money (XP) into the Crew’s account, along with, “Thank you.  End of Line.  --Lila.”  And she’s gone.

Twist

If Virtual Lila was caught by the Puppet and the group was summoned to the coffee shop, instead of the real Neural-mancer making an appearance, Virtual Lila appears after his death.  With a flurry of commands on the Puppet’s computer, the Soul Crystal glows and suddenly the body on the table is electro-shocked several times.  The Crystal shatters and the body arises.  She looks in a mirror and admires her face, “It’s not too bad.  I can work with this.”  Without even an introduction, she asks for somebody’s Data Pad.  New Lila logs into her bank account and pays the group.  “You guys are good,” she says, “I’ll keep in touch.”  And with that, New Lila walks out the door and into a new identity. 

Alternately

If the Puppet wasn’t the killer or didn’t have the Soul Crystal, the real Neural-mancer will come on screen after the Puppet is killed and thank them for getting rid of him.  (He did screw up pretty bad with Lila.)  He’ll point them at another suspect, “Just to clean up loose ends in this affair.”  Perhaps instead, they even find Supreme is hacking the computers there.  With a DC 12 Hack, they can discover that the attack is coming from the Arcade.  

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE-Sample Adventure-Coffee Shop

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

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

Overview Index 

Adventure Index 

The Coffee Shop (Neural-mancer Meat Puppet)

Hooks to Site

There are e-mails on Lila’s computer linking this site to the investigation.  Virtual Lila might also be captured by the Puppet, in which case, she sends a distress call to the group, bringing them to the coffee shop.  Another suspect may also point to this site.

Location Description

This is a nice, upscale coffee shop, though a bit out of the way and not in a good neighborhood.  It seems pretty busy inside in spite of that.  The crowd is there any time, day or night.

Reconnaissance

Whole Earth Images doesn’t show anything interesting.  No one will notice the group if they want to walk around the outside of the establishment.  If the establishment is put under surveillance for at least an hour, the observer won’t help but notice that no one inside going inside leaves. 

Entry

There is a back door to the establishment in an alley, which goes straight into the Lab.  It’s a DC 18 electronic lock.  It also Arcane Locked at DC 16.  Any failed attempt to open or attempt to force it brings out the Combat Android (he comes out through the front door and will try to attack the group from the rear).  The people in the café will be in the Lab, reinforcing the Puppet (though the Robot Arms may no longer be able to attack).  The front door, on the other hand, is always invitingly open. 

The Cafe

Inside, there are 6 patrons around the café, attended to by 2 wait staff.  Everyone seems friendly and normal enough.  Drinking or eating anything offered here requires a DC 18 Fort Sv or paralyzed for 1 turn.  With a DC 12 Detection check (or if anyone asks about the look of the people), everyone is wearing a conspicuously large, blinking earpiece Com unit.  Pulling out the earpiece, drops the person like they’re a dead body, which they actually are (brain-dead).

There is a set of swinging doors to the back and presumably, the kitchen, which customers (the characters) are not allowed into.  The bathrooms in the café are normal.

Conflict

The moment the characters act up (or are incapacitated, the worst case scenario), the customers and staff (8 Cyber-Zombies) attack, attempting to subdue the group.  A Combat Android will come out if the characters start to get the upper hand.  Again, it will be trying to subdue them. 

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE-Sample Adventure-Savantech Office Part 3

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

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

Overview Index 


Adventure Index

Outcome

The police arrive in 2 turns after disrupting ceremony, but the group should have plenty of time to make a getaway.  The group may or may not have recovered the Drow Soul Crystal (they’re probably going to have to kill the demon to do it unless they’re very quick), but they’ve found the killer in any case.  

Virtual Lila will message the group with their payment, along with, “Thank you.  End of Line.  --Lila.”  And she’s gone.  The next day on the B-Board, Savantech is suddenly reported to have been shutdown by a Black Ice attack with several of their programmers killed.

Twist

If Virtual Lila was captured, the group arrives as the ceremony is completed.  The Drow Soul Crystal glows and then shatters.  Virtual Lila suddenly appears as a Haunting Spirit.  She proceeds to attack everyone in the room.  Everyone else tries to exit as quickly as possible.  Unfortunately, even if she is defeated or exorcised, she will reform the next night to haunt the building.

Within a week, Savantech will no longer be able to operate out of the building due to the haunting.  This move is reported by the B-Board, though not the cause.  By the way, the group will be getting stiffed on the rest of Lila’s pay for obvious reasons.  Assuming the characters sell their story to the B-Board, an agent of Ophidian may contact the group later for a job to help permanently remove the ghost. 

Alternately

Just the Suits are inside the vault, still stoned.  They’re watching several live video feeds.  They have a couple of other sites under observation (Lynn’s arcade, Sanders’ estate, Warehouse, Neural-mancer lab).  These may include places that the characters have already investigated.  The addresses of the sites are listed with the video.  In this case, they’re trying to find the Crystal too and have narrowed down the suspects.  The Suits are too out of it to provide any information or even be scared of the gun-toting characters.

XP Awards

3 XP for recovering the Drow Soul Crystal

1 XP for getting past the magic ward

1 XP for dealing with the Security Guards

2 XP for defeating the Higher Demon

2 XP for defeating Lila’s Haunting Spirit

Security Guards

HD 5 (d8), Hp 20, AC 15 (+4 Flack Jacket, +1 Dex bonus)

Fort +5 Ref +2 Will +1

Melee: HTH Expert +6 to hit, 1d3+1, KO (Knock out) 1 turn on Natural 18

Ranged: Auto Pistol +7 to hit, 2d6+1, 15 shots (Magic +1, 1 extra clip), S

Shotgun +7 to hit, 2d10+1, 5 shells (Magic +1, 5 extra shells), S

Stealth +4

Higher Demon

HD 7d8+35, Hp 66, AC 19* (Natural, only vulnerable to magic, silver, and lasers/plasma), Enhanced Init +3

Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +6

Melee: 3 att/rd, 2 Claws +12 to hit, 1d6+5 and Bite +7 to hit, 1d6+2

Ranged: None

Stealth +8

Surprise Attack: Upon unsuspecting foe, Stealth Check, DC 12-equal or less HD, DC 18-higher, may make 2 Claw attacks causing max damage if hit

Ice Blast: Hail deals 8 + Spellcheck freezing damage + Stun 1 rd + dropped to last in Initiative. (Ref Sv ½ damage) Medium range.

Lila’s Haunting Spirit Form

HD 5 (d12), Hp 60, AC 16* (None, Magic to hit)       

Fort +0, Ref +0, Will +10

Melee: Touch +5 to hit, DC 18 Will Sv or 1d8 negative hp damage

(Death by this manner in a haunted place may cause another Spirit to be created.)

Possession: The Spirit may attempt to move into a person and take them over.  DC 18 Will Sv or controlled for 1d4 rds.  They may try this once per person, per encounter.  Smite, Divine Light, Consecrate, Exorcism, magic weapons, and magic spell attacks on the host will affect the Spirit instead (use Spirit stats), but any other type of attack damages the host (use host stats).  The host can be willing (such as the Spirit just wants to talk), in which case, there is no attack or Will Sv and it lasts for 1 turn. 

Ranged: Fright (upon initial appearance in any encounter) DC 18 Will Sv or panicked flight for 1d4 rds

Flinging Objects 2 att/rd at +5 to hit 1d6 (small objects) + DC 12 Will Sv or panic 1d4 rds.

Or 1 attack +5 to hit 1d10 (large objects) + DC 18 Will Sv or panic 1d4 rds.

Invisible and Intangible at will, but may not attack, only observe, though they may still Fling Objects.

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE-Sample Adventure-Savantech Office Part 2

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

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

Overview Index 

Adventure Index

The Basement

The offices and break room have nothing of value, but in the back is a set of stairs going down.  At the bottom is what seems to be a small basement.  There’s a set of shelves with paperwork on the walls.  However, one section of the wall is actually an illusion.  It’s magical.  The illusion can be detected by spell or a Psi-Hacker.  (If this proves too challenging, 1 of the security guards jumps out of the wall, automatically surprising the group.  He’ll duck back inside after firing once.  The force field will be down though.) 

There’s an opaque force field right behind the illusion.  It can be dispelled with a DC 16 Caster Check, saying “Ophidian” again, or just flipping the glowing (magic detected) light switch on the wall.  Behind the screen are several more rows of shelving eventually leading to a large vault in the back.  (Flipping the switch has the benefit of turning on the lights there, otherwise it’s pitch black.) 

Unfortunately, shutting off the force field will bring 2 Dwarvish security guards to investigate.  The group will hear the sound of large, heavy door opening and closing, but the guards will be trying to sneak up and flank the group.  Their gunfire is glowing, which usually indicates the shooter is using magically enchanted weapons or ammo (in this case, it’s the bullets).  They will try to kill the characters, though (if things go really bad for the group) they might instead capture them and take them into the vault.

The Vault

The vault has a physical combo lock (DC 18 to crack).  Blowing it up, unless somebody has the Demolitions Skill, will likely have a comical result (for the Ref) and leave the door still standing.  It can also be popped with a Knock spell, but has to beat a DC 16, since it has an Arcane Lock on it as well.  The two guards also have the combo, which could be gained if captured or via séance, if dead.  In the worst case scenario, one of them has the combo written down in their pocket.

It’s pretty dark inside.  The large vault is only lit by brazier.  There’s a strong smell of incense and something else (probably narcotic) in the air.  (You can add a DC 12 Fort Sv for the characters to avoid losing their BAB and other complex skills if you want to make this potentially more difficult.)  An Occultist will recognize this as a magical ceremony.  There are 4 stoned Suits (Elves and Humans) huffing on hookahs and intermittently chanting, who seem only vaguely aware of the characters.  The Drow Soul Crystal sits in the middle of complicated looking glowing magical ward on the floor.

There is a video screen on the wall with the face of a Snake-man observing the scene.  When the characters are discovered, he hisses several words in an unknown language.  The ward on floor glows and summons a Higher Demon to the scene.  The next rd, the Snake-man then tells the demon to deliver the Soul Crystal to him and get rid of the evidence (in this case, everyone in the room).  The video immediately goes out.

The next rd, the demon will grab the Crystal.  (So essentially the group has two rds to try and do something first.)  Next, it will try to kill the Suits, who will only start running after one of them has been killed (any hit will kill a Suit here).  Next, it will go after the characters.  Ultimately, the demon will prioritize getting the Soul Crystal and making off with it, especially if it’s being seriously harmed. 

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE-Sample Adventure-Savantech Office

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

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

Overview Index 

Adventure Index

Hooks to Site

Interrogating the thugs that Ophidian sent to ransack Lila’s apartment will yield a meeting site and a drop time, that evening.  They have no idea who hired them, they were just looking for the Soul Crystal and to raid her computer.  It happens to be across the street from Savantech.  Observation of the site at the drop time will allow the characters to see a couple of Suits leave the building, wait around awhile, and then return to it.

There are references to Savantech in Lila’s e-mails. Man-Zero’s Com unit, if he’s found dead in Lila’s apartment, will also point back to Savantech.  Virtual Lila might also have been captured.  She will send out a distress call to the group from this location.  Other suspects may also point to this site. 

Location Description

This is a small, standalone, one-story administrative office building.  Savantech is a hub company for freelance programmers.  This is just their bureaucratic center with some storage space for physical records.

Reconnaissance  

A web search of Savantech will only yield that it is a typical software company and its physical address.  There’s nothing special about them, other than the mysterious Ophidian is the Chairman of their board.  There’s nothing to learn about him from any source, but he’s pretty famous anyway. 

This building itself is very normal.  Whole Earth Images just shows the basic views.  There are no obvious advanced defenses here, not even a security guard.  However, there are 10 busy employees here during the day and trying to break and enter into this place at that time will get the cops summoned immediately.  At night, the place is deserted.

Entry

There are intrusion alarms on the doors and windows (there’s a security decal on all of them) that will bring the police in 2 turns (20 minutes) if set off from being forced or a failed hack.  They can be deactivated or bypassed by EMP, a DC 12 Hack, the door’s keylock can be picked, even a good magic electrical shock or Knock spell will do it. 

It’s the inside defense that’s a little stronger.  A glowing magical ward goes off on the ceiling as soon as people get to the center of the main room.  A booming voice demands a password, “Speak the name of the master.”  It will repeat this warning the next rd, after that everyone inside will need to make a DC 12 Will Sv or be knocked out for 1 turn.  This magic attack continues every rd in the main room until everyone is knocked out or they make it to the landing going downstairs.  The ward can be Dispelled with a DC 16 Caster Check.  Or, just say, “Ophidian.” 

Normally, the ward going off would bring security from downstairs, but they’re not in a position to respond this evening.  If everyone is knocked out (Oh Lord, get new dice), they wake up, unmolested.  As long as they crawl, the ward doesn’t go off again.

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE-Sample Adventure-Lila's Apartment Part 4

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

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

Overview Index 

Adventure Index

Lila’s Bedroom

The living area isn’t much better looking.  With a DC 12 search, a fully loaded Glock (auto pistol) can be found in the nightstand.  Other things can be found here, depending on what you want in the adventure.

--A dozen dead roses poke out of the wastebasket.  The card is from Milo Sanders and contains an invitation to a party at his house tonight.  A simple web search will show that he is the CEO of U-Tech.  If the characters want to go to the party, they can get further information from Samantha, owner of the B-Board (details are in that encounter section).

--Alternately, a jeweled necklace (worth 1 XP) is in the wastebasket along with a sappy love letter from Man-Zero.  Confusingly, there’s also a crudely scrawled message across the wall, “Where is it bitch!  Love, Man-Zero.”

--In the bathroom shower is a hanging dead body.  Given the bloody wounds, it clearly wasn’t a suicide.  It’s also a fresh Humanoid body, so it happened recently.  Who is it?  Checking the body, the ID says it’s Smack.  Or, more surprisingly, it’s Man-Zero himself.  Depends on how you want to play it.  The only thing on the body is a Com unit.  DC 12 to hack.  Of interest are four, recent missed calls from a number that tracks back to either Lynn’s Arcade (if Smack) or Savantech (if Man-Zero), wanting to know where he is.  Who killed this person?  It doesn’t matter.  Given the number of suspects already in the mix, another dead body shouldn’t be too surprising.  This guy was in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

--If you think the players have had it too easy up to this point, have the body trapped with a live grenade, which goes off if it is moved.   DC 12 Detection to notice it, if the body is searched before it’s touched.  Damage is 2d10 + Stun 1 rd (DC 12 Ref Sv 1/2 damage) to everyone in the bathroom, and the explosion will bring the Radical cell and the police up to the apartment. 

Caught by the Police

This more or less applies to any encounter, so let’s just address it now.  Unless the characters are in the process of getting away, shooting at the cops is a bad idea.  Any protracted gun battle will instantly bring reinforcements, who will cut off any escape.  Holing up somewhere inside, will bring a SWAT team into the picture, who make no effort to take them alive. 

Capture is not a terrible option.  The characters are Zeroes.  The police will not be able to identify them.  Depending on the circumstances (like trying to look like bystanders), they might just let the characters go, since they can’t book them.  Processing a John Doe is too much paperwork.  They can’t even be put them into the system at this point, because any entry of their personal data or DNA characteristics returns a result from the master national database that they are dead or that the data is already attached to fake, illegal identity.  The characters legally don’t, and can’t, exist.  Being Blacked Out is a permanent condition.   

Sometimes though, the characters are going to be caught red-handed and booked, but the identity problem still remains.  At the police station, a detective or a lieutenant will be talking to the characters.  Here’s where some bribery (in the form of favors) and maybe some creative storytelling about what the characters are doing will come into play.  They could convince police that their current job (in this case, solving a murder) is actually in the public good.  If all else fails, somebody bails out the characters.  Virtual Lila will do that this time.  Associates and other employers can do it in other adventures.  Favors and XP will likely be the cost.     

Captured by Thugs or Humanoids

It could happen.  The characters will be interrogated, but given that they don’t know anything, it’s not going to be much of a talk.  Thugs will take their weapons (easily replaced) and let them go.  The Humanoids will want to take them out somewhere and “dispose” of them.  Here’s a good place to use that XP for an escape or rescue.

XP Awards

1 XP for entering building.

1 XP for passing along Humanoid terrorist information to the police or Sam.

1 XP for pawning necklace.

1 XP for exiting with useable information.

    

Orcs

HD 2 (d8), Hp 10, AC 10 (None)

Fort Sv +4, Ref Sv +0, Will +0

Melee: Combat Knife +3 to hit, 1d6+1

Ranged: Assault Rifle, 30 rd clip, M

+2 to hit, 2d8 single shot

+2 to hit, 2d8 x 1d2 burst (DC 12 Ref Sv 1/2 damage), 3 bullets

+0 to hit, 2d8 x 1d2 spray, up to 3 adjacent targets (DC 12 Ref Sv ½ damage), 6 bullets

Auto Pistol (Outside front door guards) +2 to hit, 2d6, 15 shot, S

Infravision

Goblins

HD 1 (d8), Hp 4, AC 11 (None, +1 Dex bonus)

Fort Sv +2, Ref Sv +1, Will -1

Melee: Dagger +1 to hit, 1d4

Ranged: Assault Pistol, 30 shot clip, S (never fires single shots)

+2 to hit, 2d6 x 1d2 burst (DC 12 Ref Sv ½ damage), 3 bullets

Thugs

HD 3 (d8), Hp 12, AC 10 (none)

Fort +2 Ref +0 Will +0

Melee: Shock Wand +4 to hit, DC 12 Fort Sv or KO 1 turn, 10 charges

Ranged: Auto Pistol +3 to hit, 2d6, 15 shot, S

Sawed Off Shotgun (one member of group) +3 to hit, 2d10, spray up to two adjacent (DC 12 Ref Sv 1/2 damage) 2 shells, C

Security Chief (Randall)

HD 6 (d8 Half-Elf), Hp 29, AC 14 (+2 Kevlar shirt, +2 Dex bonus)

Fort +6 Ref +4 Will +4

Melee: Shock Wand +7 to hit, DC 12 Fort Sv or KO 1 turn, 10 charges

Ranged: .44 Revolver +8 to hit, 2d8, 6 shot, S

Hacking +5

Detection +5, Includes the detection of traps, trapped items, and ambushes; Disarming Traps; and Finding secret doors and hidden items.  Use DC 12 in general, DC 18 if a master is trying to be deceptive or has set up a trap and such.

Observation +5, An ability to gauge the veracity of someone being interviewed, and also the ability to pick out suspicious people in a crowd or something incongruous or out of place in a setting.  DC 12 if up against an amateur (less HD) trying to get away with something, DC 18 against an expert (equal or more HD or someone using special magic or technology).

Stealth: +5

Crack Shot: Can fire into melee

Infravision and Immunities to sleep, charm, and paralysis effects.