The Odd World

The world is too large for anyone to fully map and too old for academics to accurately record. Explorers return from every direction with tales of bizarre places, wondrous and horrific. You are an Explorer, braving the unknown in search of riches, fame, knowledge or power. An Industrial Age Citizens flock to Bastion, its vast factories providing dangerous but dependable work. Guns, chemicals and newspapers are mass produced and gas-lamps light the streets. The modern man feels a new sense of power and the threat of revolution haunts decadent aristocrats and cruel work-masters. Arcana Each Arcanum possesses an unnatural power to be exploited. Those with a strong mind will find them indispensable, but coveted by those that seek power. They range from the smallest locket or ring to vast machines or structures. The Astrals Distant tribes paint cave walls with their image, and each corner of the world gives these visitors a different name. Cultists see them as gods, while the belligerent Union of Man prepare an army to fend off their return. The Odd Academics know that searching in places too dark or distant would show things too foul to be recorded. Even the most comprehensive references of wildlife are filled with apocryphal entries. Those that seek out monsters to slay will find death before long.

Into the Odd by Chris McDowall is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://soogagames.blogspot.com

New to RPGs?
How do you play? One player is the Referee. They describe the situation the characters are currently in. The players then asks questions and uses their character to interact with the environment. The Referee tells the players what happens or which dice to roll dice to determine the outcome. What do you need? A twenty-sided die, some six-sided dice, pencils and paper. The Referee will have prepared a location for the characters to explore or may use an existing adventure module.

Rolling a Character Who are You?

Roll 3d6 for each Ability Score. 10 is average. You may swap of any two of your scores. STRENGTH Fighting, fortitude and toughness. DEXTERITY Stealth, athletics and reflexes. WILLPOWER - Wits, cunning and discipline If WIL Score is your highest score (or tied), your character has an Arcanum. See the Arcana section. Characters start with 1d6 Hitpoints, a measure of how safe they are from taking life-threatening Damage.

Equipment
As well as individual equipment, an exploration party will always have torches, rope, spikes, backpacks, basic camping equipment and rations. One-Hundred Pennies (p) make a Shilling (s). Onehundred Shillings make a Guilder (g). Unarmed/Improvised Attack: 1d6-1 Damage. Hand Weapon (2s, one hand): 1d6 damage. Dagger, bow, pitchfork, sword, pistol, club etc. Field Weapon (10s, two hands): 1d6+1 damage. Pistol brace, sword and dagger, halberd, etc. Noble Weapon (30s, one hand): 1d6+1 damage. Finely made sabre, duelling pistol, rapier, etc. Heavy Gun (1g, two hands) 1d6+2 damage. Cannot move and fire. Elephant gun, long rifle. etc. Shield Armour (10s, one hand): Armour 1. Outdated armour requiring a shield (included) to be effective. Hinders climbing, swimming, acrobatics etc. Modern Armour (50s): Armour 1. Breastplate and helm. Hinders climbing, swimming, acrobatics, etc. Tools (1s each): Lantern, Crowbar, Saw, Glue, Magnifying Glass, Pickaxe, Manacles, Whistle, Animal Trap, Lockpicks, Mirror, Writing Set, Fishing Pole, Shovel, Grappling Hook, Collapsible Pole, 20ft Rope, Spike Set, Game Set, Caltrops, etc. Luxuries (1g): Clockwork items, Thermometer, Elaborate Clothes, Jewellery, Ornaments, Spyglass, etc. Fire Oil (10s): Sets an area alight. All inside take 1d6 damage each round. Bomb (20s): Ignited with fuse or direct flame. Causes 2d6 damage to all within the blast. Board (per week): Bed in a Dormitory (1s), Room in a Boarding House (10s), Town House (20s). Food and Drink: Bread and Broth (10p), Bottle of Gin or Rum (50p), Pie and Wine (50p), Fine Meal (1s). Horses: Mule (5s) to Horse (1g). +1 to Armour and Charge Damage when mounted. Dogs: Mutt (5s) to Hound (50s). STR 8, DEX 10, WIL 4. 1d6hp for Mutt, 2d6 for Hound. Bite for 1d6 damage. Birds: From parrots and ravens (10s) to kestrels and hawks (50s). STR 3, DEX 15, WIL 3, 1d6hp. Attacks smaller prey for 1d6 damage. Hirelings (cost per day, 1d6hp and Ability Scores 10 unless noted) Lighter Boy (1s): STR 7, Lantern, Club. Mercenary (5s): 2d6HP, Musket, Knife. Champion (20s): 3d6, STR 13, Modern Armour, Halberd (1d6+1).

Starting Equipment
Roll 1d6 three times, and consult the chart below to find a character's starting equipment. For duplicate rolls consult the second and third columns.
1st Result 1 Sword (1d6) 2 Pistol (1d6) 3 Musket (1d6+1) 4 Hatchet (1d6) 5 Crowbar 6 Shovel 1st Duplicate Lackey Lackey Mutt Mutt Bow (1d6) Polearm (1d6+1) 2nd Duplicate Shield Armour Modern Armour Fire Oil Bomb Hound Bird

For example, rolling 1, 2, 2 gives a Sword, Pistol, and Lackey. 3, 3, 3 gives a Musket, Mutt, and Fire Oil. Lackeys roll 2d6 for each Ability Score and have 1hp. They roll one die only for equipment.

Playing the Game - What the players need to know.

Saves: Roll 1d20. You must roll equal or under the appropriate Ability Score to pass. A 1 is always a success and a 20 always a failure. Taking your Turn: In a combat situation the Referee decides which side acts first. If unsure, opposing sides will roll 1d6 and compare. On your turn a character can generally move and carry out one action. Attacking: An attack normally causes 1d6 damage, plus any bonus from your weapon, minus the target's Armour score. If the target is unaware of the attack or unable to defend themselves an additional 1d6 damage is added. Ranged weapons cannot be used while the character is engaged in melee combat. Weapon Properties Weapons may carry specific properties, guided by common sense. For example, a pistol can be concealed and a halberd allows the wielder to fight from behind an ally. However, pistols cannot function if they are wet and polearms cannot be easily concealed. Damage: When an individual takes damage they lose that many Hitpoints. If they have Hitpoints remaining then the attack was mostly avoided or only a minor wound. When the character runs out of Hitpoints their lives are at risk unless they can save themselves. Critical Damage: If a character is reduced to 0hp, they must pass a Save to avoid Critical Damage. This is a STR Save in melee and a DEX Save for ranged combat. A character that takes Critical Damage loses STR equal to the damage caused by the attack. For other sources of damage the Referee will choose the most appropriate Save, provided the character can save themselves somehow. Other Manoeuvres: In place of making a normal attack a character may spend their turn trying to carry out another manoeuvre, such as knocking an opponent down, snatching an item and fleeing or cowering behind cover. In these cases the Referee will call for the character or their target to roll a Save to see if the Manoeuvre is successful. For example, a character grappling a wild beast will force the beast to make a STR Save to break free.

Ability Score Loss: Character may lose points from their Ability Scores. If an Ability Score is halved in a single stroke the character is incapacitated until they have are tended to and have a Short Rest. Having a Score reduced to 0 or being left incapacitated for an hour results in death. Death: When a character dies the player creates a new character and the Referee finds a way to have them join the group as soon as possible. Here, quickness takes priority over realism. Alternatively the player may take control of a Lackey, Hireling or Member of their Company. Morale: Groups of combatants require a WIL Save to avoid being routed when they lose half of their total numbers. Lone combatants must pass this Save when they take Critical Damage. This applies to opponents and allies but not player characters. Short Rest: A few minutes of rest and a swig of water will recover all of a characters lost Hitpoints. Resting may waste time or attract danger. Full Rest: A Full Rest requires a week of rest and relaxation at a secure location. This restores all Ability Scores and generally cures any other ailments.

Arcana - Powers you do not understand.

An Arcanum is a device that contains a strange Power. Their form varies from rods, tablets and orbs to statues, guns and altars. Characters can release the Power inside an Arcanum, if they are strong willed enough to command it. A New Character's Arcanum A new character with an Arcanum rolls 1d20, consulting the Power List to find their Arcanum's Power. Using an Arcanum A character can use a Arcanum in place of making an attack. If the user is in a risky situation, such as combat, they must pass a WIL Save. If they fail, their concentration is broken, and the Power is not activated. Identifying an Arcanum When a character first picks up an Arcanum they will sense its nature and often a clue to its Power. A Power must be used to be identified. If the Power requires a specific target that is not available at the time, it will not work.

Keeping an Arcanum Arcana are some of the most highly sought-after items in the world. Characters that are open about the Arcana they carry will almost certainly find themselves the target of collectors, thieves and con artists. Military personnel are usually under orders to confiscate any Arcana found on a citizen, and wealthy individuals will offer huge prices to turn them over. Astral universities may offer valuable knowledge and access to their vaults in return for a particularly powerful Arcanum. Other Arcana The search for the secrets of Arcana has driven many explorers to obsession and greedy deaths.

Powers Unnatural Abilities of Arcana

This is not a list of all possible Powers an Arcanum can contain. The vast majority are yet to be discovered. New characters roll 1d20 to find their starting Arcanum's Power. These are a good example of the Arcanum Powers that will be most commonly found. 1: Expert's Eye: You identify the general function of any object, including an Arcanum. It will also reveal areas of weakness or particular value. 2: Frozen Brain: Target must pass a WIL Save to avoid being dazed for a turn. 3: Pale Glow: An object glows with white light. Contact with the glowing object causes a point of damage per minute. The effect wears off when the Power is used again 4: Burden Soul: Target may pass a DEX Save to avoid your touch. If touched, they feel a weight on their very soul and lose 1d6 WIL. 5: Unbreakable Seal: One door, window, etc. is magically sealed until you open it. 6: Obscuring Mist: Mist surrounds you and all within 20ft. Anyone attacked through the mist has Armour 2. 7: Red Oil: Anyone moving or standing on the 10ft target area must make a DEX Save to avoid falling and being unable to move on their turn. Disappears in a harmless flash if ignited. 8: Pain Curse: Target must pass a WIL Save or lose 1d6 STR. 9: Spider Climb: Climb sheer surfaces as if you were a spider. 10: Sunblessed: Until you sleep you count as having Armour 2 but glow and hum faintly. 11: Babbletongue: For one conversation you speak in a strange sounding language. Every living thing is able to understand and reply in the same tongue if they wish. 12: Command Word: Order a target to drop, fall, flee or halt unless they pass a WIL Save.

13: Dark Veil: Target must pass a WIL Save or is Blinded until you lift the curse or they have a full rest. Blinded individuals subtract 2 from damage rolls. 14: Binding Strands: Strands spread between two surfaces up to 20ft apart. Those within only move very slowly unless they pass a DEX Save. 15: Heat Ray: A beam causing 2d6 damage. Will sear a thin hole through even metal. 16: Miniaturise: Touch an object to shrink it into a tiny miniature. Restore the object to original size at will. The original object can be up to your size. 17: Invisible Grasp: Hold one person still, unable to defend themselves, until they pass a WIL Save. 18: Phase Out: You look like you aren't quite there. Reroll any failed saves against Critical Damage until you next take Critical Damage. 19: Bone Magnet: You may attract or repel a single target that has a skeleton, unless they pass a STR test. 20: Uncanny Double: A perfect duplicate of you is formed. It acts independently, and just like the original. It cannot interact physically with anything. The double lasts until dismissed or a new double is created.

Great Powers
An Arcanum containing one of these Powers is much more likely to be actively sought out by others. Those that are undiscovered are likely to be hidden in very deep and dangerous places, or behind powerful guards. 1: Hypnotise: Target must pass a WIL Save or carry out a single action until you say stop, or they pass the Save on their turn. Cannot harm themselves. 2: Inferno: Cause a source of fire to explode, causing 2d6 damage to all within 20ft. 3: Drain Life: Target must pass a DEX Save to avoid your touch, or lose 1d6 STR. 4: Burning Blood: Target must pass a WIL Save or have their blood turned to acid. They take 1d6 damage, ignoring armour, each round, until they pass the Save. 5: Ghost Form: You turn to an insubstantial, smoky form, along with your equipment. Ignore physical attacks. You can float and squeeze through holes but cannot manipulate objects and can be blown by a strong wind. Return to normal at will. 6: Black Tentacles: Summon a 20ft area of tentacles that lash out and attack. Anyone within must pass a STR Save to break free. The mass of tentacles has 10hp and is destroyed at 0hp . 7: The Madness: All within 15ft of a point must pass a WIL Save or become confused. Roll 1d6 at the start of each turn until they pass the Save. 1-2: Attack closest individual, 3-4: Act aimlessly, 5-6: Act normally. 8: Beast from Beyond: Summon a horrific flying beast (STR 14, DEX 10, WIL 4, Armour 1, 10hp, 1d6+1 Damage) to fight for you until no enemies remain. After this, you must pass a WIL Save to avoid it attacking you. Otherwise, it flies toward freedom. 9: False Charm: Target must pass a WILL Save, or treats you as a friend for the rest of the day. 10: Snakebite: When you next cause Critical Damage in melee you bite your opponent for 2d6 STR loss. 11: The Beast Within: You take on a savage form (STR 18, DEX 14, Armour 2, 1d6+2 claws, retain WIL and hp), but lose the ability to speak. Return to normal form whenever you wish or when you sleep. 12: Deathswarm: 20ft buzzing cloud moves 10ft away from you each round. Anyone within loses 1d6 STR every round. 13: Wither: Target must pass a DEX Save or lose 2d6 STR at your touch. 14: Dire Beasts: Up to five animals turn dire. They gain +1 Armour (to a maximum of 3) and melee damage. They also grow much more violent.

15: Petrify: Target must pass a STR Save or lose 2d6 DEX. If this reduces their DEX to zero they are turned to stone. 16: Guardian Shield: A shield of light appears between you and a single target. The shield (15hp, Armour 1) absorbs any damage the target would cause you, and is destroyed at 0hp. Each turn it pushes the target 10ft away from you unless they pass a STR Save. 17: Master of Earth: Over an hour you shift sand, soil or earth to your will, creating ditches up to 10ft deep. This may destabilise structures, redirect rivers and fell trees but will not affect rock, create tunnels or be fast enough to bury mobile opponents. 18: Devils Roar: Glass, crystal or ceramic objects within 5ft are shattered. In addition, one object you are touching (wielder may avoid with a STR Save) is shattered. This object must be light enough for you to lift. 19: Pressurise: Next time the target takes Critical Damage they must pass a STR Save or explode in a bloody mess. 20: Terrible Orbs: Create two orbs of light that obey your commands. They can be flung at a target for 2d6 damage, destroying the orb. No more than two orbs can exist at once.

Legendary Powers
An Arcanum containing one of these Powers is likely to be a well known relic or subject of mythology. They tend to be confined to larger Arcana. Those that are undiscovered will remain so for a reason. They may be lost in an extremely hostile environment, under the control of a godlike entity or guarded by hellish deathtraps. Only the most powerful individuals would openly admit to possessing an Arcanum with these Powers, as they are objects of great lust to anyone that desires power. 1: Change Weather: Cause the weather within a mile radius to change for the rest of the day. In the case of dangerous weather you cannot target specific individuals or locations or cause extremes that are inescapably lethal. 2: Obliterate: Choose a target and roll 2d6. If this is equal or higher than their current HP they are completely destroyed in a blast of fire. 3: Cheat Death: A corpse is miraculously restored to life if they pass a WIL Save. If they fail the Save, the remains are utterly destroyed and the Power cannot be used on that target again. 4: Teleport: You and up to one companion are teleported to a location you have been to before. 5: Death Wave: All enemies within 20ft lose 1d6 STR. 6: Spirit Commune: Conjures a ghostly image of a dead target, which will speak with you clearly and willingly, regardless of language or intelligence. The image remains until dismissed. 7: Mark of Madness: Creates symbols on any object. Anyone trying to decode them must pass a WIL Save or lose 2d6 WIL. 8: Earthquake: Targets a 100ft area. All structures take 3d6 damage and caves or tunnels collapse, causing 1d6 damage per round to anyone within, until they escape. 9: Mighty Servant: A large object is animated and serves you. The object has STR 18, DEX 5, WIL 5, 10hp, Armour 2 and attacks for 2d6 damage. No more than one object can serve you at once. 10: Forcefield: Create a semi-transparent, shimmering surface that only you may pass through. Any enemy approaching the wall is blasted with light for 2d6 damage. The field lasts until dismissed or another field is created. 11: Iron Body: You have Armour 3 and ignore fire and poison based damage. You can no longer swim but also do not need to breathe, eat or drink. The effect lasts until dismissed.

12: Dead Zone: Creates a permanent one-mile zone where any living things lose 1d6 STR each hour, starting at the end of this hour. Living things within this zone are instantly aware of this and will try to leave. Even plants wither and die in this time. 13: Rebuild: Over an hour one damaged or ruined structure, ship or similar target is repaired to peak condition without need for materials. 14: Inspire the Masses: Allies regain all HP and fleeing allies are rallied. 15: Divine Form: You take on the appearance of a huge, godlike entity. You can conjure purely cosmetic, but impressive, visual effects. 16: Storm Being: You turn into a bolt of lightning, moving at impossible speed to a specified location you can see. Anyone you pass through takes 2d6 damage, ignoring armour. 17: Shapechange: You shift to take the form of your target, retaining only your WIL score and general level of intelligence. This lasts until dismissed. 18: Black Hole: Create a five-foot, black sphere. Anything entering it is utterly destroyed. Cannot be moved or placed on top of an object or opponent. 19: Mind Wipe: Target must pass a WIL Save or become a mindless automaton. 20: Starbeam: As long as you have line of sight to the sky you call down a beam of light for 3d6 damage, ignoring all armour.

Example of Play
(Three player-characters and their hireling torch bearer have been delving deep into a strange underground complex they stumbled on in an inhospitable desert) Referee: The base of the long staircase leads into a spectacular room, some 30ft high and equally wide. Its walls look like an intricate mosaic but the tiles are constantly shifting in colour. Waves of differing hues wash across the walls and the centre of the floor is dominated by a six-foot-wide circular shaft. Ezekiel: (Sketching down the room on his rough map) Are there any exits other than the way we came? Referee: Just the shaft in the middle of the room. Toku: Well, this is a dead end. My hunter's instincts were right! Ezekiel: The walls look strange... I'm being very careful not to touch them and tell my torch bearer to do the same. Toku: Oh come on, we hired him because hes disposable! Maybe Uthred should try touching them. Uthred: I'm not scared of a wall, but I'm not stupid. I'll try tapping the wall with the handle of my axe. Referee: The pattern of the tiles doesn't seem to respond, but as you're inspecting them more closely you can feel that they're giving off a slight heat. Uthred: Enough to burn me? Referee: Doesn't look like it, only a slight heat. Uthred: I place my hand boldly against the tiles. Referee: As soon as Uthred's hand touches the wall the shifting colours stop and a pulsing blue pattern starts to radiate from around Uthred's hand. Ezekiel: Stand by for his head exploding... Uthred: You worry too much! How do the tiles feel?

Referee: They feel much like you'd expect a smooth mosaic too, but they are giving off a faint warmth. Uthred: Huh, weird. Well I'll take my hand off the wall and go to check out the shaft. Referee: As soon as you remove your hand from the wall it starts to shift colours again and you now see the tiled shape of a person, looking almost like your own reflection. Barely a second later the room is filled with a crackling noise and the tiled visage of Uthred somehow steps out of the wall, hefting the axe from its back and taking up a combat stance. Toku: Right, I'm not giving this thing a chance to pull us into the wall or whatever it's going to try. I leap at it with my daggers. Referee: Roll for damage. Toku: (Rolls 1d6+1) That's a 4! Referee: Okay, you sidestep around the tiled being and after a few probing thrusts you stab it in the side. Instead of a scream the copy of Uthred roars out in crackling static-noise. Its still standing. Uthred: I'll have at it with my axe, trying to drive it away from Ezekiel and the lantern-bearer. Referee: Okay, roll for damage. Uthred: (rolls 1d6, scoring 5) I have five. Referee: (notices that the opponent is now at 0hp, with 2 damage left over) You kick the thing back, knocking it off balance and leaving it open to Critical Damage unless it can make its Save. (Rolls a STR Save, failing) The copy ducks Uthred's first swing, but the backswing buries the axe head in its side. It loses 2 STR, roaring out in static fuzz. Uthred: There's only room for one Uthred here! Referee: The copy of Uthred drops its axe on the ground and reaches forward to try and grab Toku. Give me a STR Save. Toku: (Rolls a STR Save) Erm... I got a 20. Referee: (Over the groans of the table) The creature grabs Toku and tries to push him against one of the walls. Referee: The creature slams you against the wall. You see a blue pulsing pattern form on its surface. A moment later the colours shift into your shape and the copy steps forward from the wall. Over to you guys. Ezekiel: I never thought I'd have to choose between killing Toku and Uthred. I'm going to use the Wither Power from that weird glove-arcanum thing we found earlier and try to destroy the copy of Toku. Referee: Right, as you're in combat you'll need to pass a WIL Save. Ezekiel: (Rolls his WIL Save) Made it! Referee: The copy gets a DEX Save to avoid the touch (Rolls a DEX Save), but it fails!

Ezekiel: (Rolls 2d6 for STR loss, as dictated by the Power) Eleven! Referee: (Checks his notes and sees that this will reduce the creature's STR to zero) It's enough to drain the energy from this thing. The touch of your glove causes the colour to fade from the being as it falls motionless to the ground and snaps out of existence, completely destroyed. Uthred: Yes! Referee: You should be aware that youve really been making quite a lot of noise in this room. (Secretly makes a Luck Roll to see if any nearby monsters have noticed the noise. A roll of 1 indicates something bad should happen, so he rolls on the hostile encounter table he has prepared for this area). Ezekiel: I dont like the sound of this. Referee: You notice the sound of something descending the staircase. Remember that weird horselike creature with skin like super-hard tree bark you were ambushed by last session? Uthred: Sure, we knocked it down that pit and fled like heroes. Referee: Well this thing looks almost identical, but rather than being horse-sized its large enough to barely be able to squeeze into the staircase. Its jaws look large enough to be able to swallow you whole and its forelegs end in grasping claws spanning some six feet. Needless to say its squeezing down the staircase with you in its sights and it doesnt seem friendly. (Fails a WIL Save for the copy of Uthred, as the sight of this thing is enough to scare it) The copy of Uthred sees this thing and immediately crawls back into the wall, fading into the tiles. Ezekiel: I don't much like the idea of being swallowed whole. What are our chances of running through its legs? Referee: Its pretty tightly packed into the stairway. If you want to try it would certainly require a DEX Save. Uthred: The smaller monster was afraid of fire, wasn't it? Perhaps we should send the lantern bearer over to try and keep it at bay. Referee: He looks pretty hesitant... he'd need to pass a WIL Save to follow such a suicidal order. You never know, though, it could work! Toku: Running past it and trying to scare it seem needlessly risky when we have a perfectly good exit right here! Uthred: The shaft? Does it look like the creature could fit down there? Referee: Unlikely, its certainly too big to be able to do so easily.

Ezekiel: As suicidal as it sounds it might be our best hope. Can I throw a coin or something into the shaft? Referee: As you flick a half-shilling down the shaft you hear a distant splash a few seconds later. Toku: Water! Ezekiel: Thats optimistic... how do we know it isnt acid or something? I figure we can find a way to distract it long enough for us to escape back up the staircase. Referee: While youre formulating this plan the creature has managed to force itself into the room, brushing against the tiled wall, which sends out blue ripples. Uthred: Oh crap, this isnt going to end well. Ezekiel: Fine! Into the hole! Toku: Trust me! Ill even leap it first. Referee: Youre all leaping down now? (The group all nod reluctantly) Referee: You plunge into the darkness of the shaft, falling for a few seconds before splashing into what feels like ice cold water, deep enough for you to fall into safely. The bearers lantern is extinguished and youre barely able to get your bearings in the pitchblack pit before you feel a tingling sensation over your bodies. WIL Saves all round! (Groans fill the table)

After the Expedition - What next?

Generally the goal of an Expedition will be to find out about a mysterious environment, evade a powerful threat or seek out mysterious Arcana. Experience Levels When they have completed the requirements, a character advances to the next Experience Level. A Character cannot advance more than one experience level in a single session of play. If you have a Lackey, they may advance as a normal character. When a character moves to the next experience level they gain 1d6hp and roll 1d20 for each of their Ability Scores. If the roll is higher than the score it is increased by 1. Companies and Apprentices From Expert Level upwards you may choose to launch a Company (see the following page. For each week spent in a settlement you may recruit 1d6 Members (Ability Scores 10, 1d6hp). Normal Members do not advance in Experience levels. In place of a single Member you may take on an Apprentice, rolling their scores as a new character and having them advance in Experience Levels under your guidance.

Novice - You are ready to go on an expedition. Professional - You have survived at least one expedition to a dangerous place, returning to civilisation. Expert - You have invested a Guilder (100s) or more in a Company. Veteran - Your Apprentice is Expert Level or higher. Master - Your Company has at least one hundred Members.

Founding a Company
A Company could be anything from a political group or overseas colony to a cult or business enterprise. A group of characters generally share management and individual members may range from supporters or employees to partners in management. Each month, your company pursues either Funds or Growth. Funds: You gather money this month, gaining 1s for each of your Members to go into your personal funds. Growth: Your numbers increase by half. Even the largest Companies can gain a maximum of 1,000 new members a month this way.

War and Revolution

Training Soldiers: 5% of the general populace are soldiers (7HP). A further 20% are fit to fight as conscripts (3hp). In some Companies, all of Members are be combat-ready. Revolution: Typically the largest Company present in a settlement will act as Government. However, the current rulers can be overthrown, outvoted or otherwise deposed, even by smaller Companies. Large Battles: Large groups of combatants should be combined as a unit. A Unit fights as one and adds 1 to Damage rolls for how many times they outnumber their opponents, to a maximum of +3. For example, a unit of 200 cavemen fighting 100 pikemen outnumber them 2-to-1, so add 2 to their Damage. If a unit outnumbers their opponents by less than 2-to-1 they add 1 to Damage. A unit taking Critical Damage takes casualties equal to the number of attackers. Attacks causing 2d6 damage or more cause a casualty for each point of Critical Damage they cause. For example, a unit of ten cannons causing 8 Critical Damage results in 80 casualties. Sieges and Ships: Structures and vessels can only be harmed by attacks causing 2d6 damage or more. Vessels have a DEX score, their ability to manoeuvre. They may pass a DEX Save to avoid destruction at 0hp. Infantry in fortifications have Armour 2. Field Cannon (2g): 2d6 damage. Siege Cannon (5g): 3d6 damage. City House (10g): 10hp, Armour 1. Factory (100g): 14hp, Armour 1. City Wall: 10hp, Armour 3. Coastal Fort (200g): 15hp, Armour 3. Rowboat (50s) DEX 10, 4hp. Barge (1g): DEX 5, 7hp. Cutter (200g): DEX 14, 8hp, 100 crew, 10 Cannons (2d6). Galleon (300g): DEX 10, 10hp, Armour 1, 200 crew, 12 Swivel-Guns (1d6+2). Warship (800g): DEX 8, 15hp, Armour 2, 500 crew, 50 Cannons (2d6). Flagship (1,500g): DEX 8, 20hp, Armour 2, 800 crew, 100 Heavy Cannons (2d6+1). Prototype Ironclad (5,000g): DEX 7, 16hp, Armour 3, 50 Cannons (2d6). Cart (30s): DEX 12, 4hp. Wagon (1g): DEX 8, 7hp.

The Black Hands Club Revolutionary Group Leader: Yuren Spinner, Master Activist. 500 Members 50 Revolutionaries: 7hp, Muskets (1d6+1), Swords (1d6) 150 Rebel Workers: 3hp, Polearms (1d6+1) Royal Court of Rosevine Deposed Rulers Leader: Queen Essa IX, Master Aristocrat. 5,000 Members 250 Royal Guard: 10hp, Horse, Armour, Axes (1d6+1) 200 Pikemen: 7hp, Pikes (1d6+1) 4,000 Gunmen: 3hp, Muskets (1d6+1) 200 Light Cavalry: 7hp, Horse, Pistol Braces (1d6+1)

Running the Game - What the Referee needs to know.

Knowing when to Roll: When a player describes what they want their character to do you generally have three options. 1) Its something the character can do safely. 2) Its not possible. Suggest a different approach. 3) It might be possible but theres a risk. Roll dice. A Note on Risk A game should have surprises, but players should feel that their decisions are driving the game. As such, the Referee should ensure that players know the risks they are taking with their actions. If the players engage in combat, they risk death. If they hack down a door with axes, they risk alerting enemies. Assessing the risk against the possible reward is a vital part of the game. The players should always have what they need to make an informed choice. Understanding Ability Scores 3: Human minimum, severely limited in this area. 10: An average human. 15: Excellent human ability. 20: The most exceptional beings imaginable. Understanding Saves Saves only occur as the result of an action or choice. They're an attempt to avoid something bad, be it getting lost or a gruesome death. STR Save: Avoiding harm through exerting physical force or withstanding strain on your body. DEX Save: Avoiding harm through quick reactions, precision and grace. WIL Save: Avoiding harm through mental focus, confidence and control over Arcana. Luck Rolls: Sometimes youll want an element of randomness without rolling a Save, particularly in situations dictated by luck or those that fall outside of the three Ability Scores. For these situations roll a d6. A high roll favours the players, and a low roll means bad luck for the players. The Referee will decide what a specific result means for the situation at hand.

How Much Damage? Damage from falling rocks, explosions and other sources outside of normal combat is typically between 1d6 and 3d6. Consider how it would affect an average person. A fall that is quite likely to injure an inexperienced character might cause 1d6 damage but a huge rock that would crush most might do 3d6. Poison will usually cause Ability Score loss and effects like Blindness cause a penalty to damage rolls. Unusual Attacks: Manoeuvres such as pushing opponents into pits, grappling or disarming them generally give a Save to whoever is at risk. Turn Length A turn is generally long enough for a character to move and carry out a single action. Characters may carry out other minor actions instead of moving, such as switching weapons. Turns are an abstract concept, and the real-time length of a turn is not important. The Core of Good Refereeing: A good Referee gives the players interesting choices to make and ensures that these choices have a meaningful impact on the current situation and progress of the game.

Arcana in your Game

Breaking the Rules Not all Arcana function as those given to new characters. Arcana can do anything and are not subject to limitations. Side Effects As well as their Power, an Arcanum may display various side effects. This could include emitting a constant glow, requiring daylight, or possessing its own intelligence and communicating psychically. Big Arcana Not every Arcanum is as portable as a wand or locket. Many more closely resemble furnishings or structures. Example: Utopian Gate This metal structure acts as a portal to another world, if someone spends an hour carrying out the required ritual. Closing the portal requires a WIL Save or the character loses 2d6 WIL and the portal remains open. Passage to and from the other world is instant and unrestricted. Disposable Arcana An Arcanum may take a disposable form, such as something that must be consumed or an item that disappears after one or more uses. Other than disappearing after use it will function as a normal Arcanum. Example: Five Demon Ball Shattering this orb activates the Beast from Beyond Power, but five beasts are summoned, instead of just one. If all five beasts are killed the ball reforms at the corpse of the last to be killed. Arcana Weapons Some Arcana function as a weapon alongside containing their Power. They may still function quite differently to a normal weapon of their type. Example: Blue-Iron Deathgun This heavy gun (+2 damage, cannot move and fire) fires a beam of whistling blue light in place of a shot. The gun ignores armour, contains the Power Miniature and anyone taking Critical Damage from the gun is turned into a charred skeleton.

Treasure and Riches

Different types of treasure, from gems to artwork to functional items, will have a certain value. Traders will try to haggle this price or, in the case of expensive items, may not be able to afford it at all. Money All coins are valued against the Silver-Standard Shilling (s). One Shilling is the amount a typical factory worker earns in a day. There are a huge variety of coins that are valued against the Shilling, with two being especially common. Copper Pennies (p) are worth a hundredth of a Shilling. Ten pennies buy you a cheap drink in a bad tavern. Gold Guilders (g) are worth one-hundred Shillings. One Guilder will get you a good horse, a wagon or a valuable piece of jewellery. Bank Notes are a relatively recent innovation and are used for large business transactions. Notes range from ten Guilders to one-thousand.

Obstacles, Tricks and Hazards

Spotting Hazards As a general rule the presence of a trap or other hazard will always be noticed by characters unless they are running, visually impaired or distracted. After this the characters may be harmed through further inaction or lack of caution. The players should consider creative ways of getting around a hazard or disarming it completely. Risky methods may call for a Save or Luck Roll. Rusty old traps may only trigger on a low Luck roll, even if the characters stumble right into them. Locked Doors Typically a locked door can be picked by someone with a lockpick, given some time. No Save is required unless there is a risk of triggering a trap, alerting foes or running out of time. Attempts to use lockpicks and other equipment quickly under pressure generally require a DEX Save and may include having to light a torch while under attack or tying a rope before a friend plummets to their death. Breaking down a door can similarly be completed without a Save, unless there are risks or pressure, which may require a STR Save. However, breaking down a door always causes lots of noise and can take a long time. Old doors may stick or swing shut on a bad Luck Roll. Wandering Encounters Its important to note that anything mobile in an expedition site is unlikely to remain in one place all the time. As such, the Referee should consider having a chance of the party encountering someone or something. Making loud noises will increase or decrease the chance of this happening, depending on the nature of the beings nearby. Stupefying Poison Trap Dart pipe is visible at base of chest. Triggered by opening the chest without taking appropriate precautions. Broken darts litter the floor of this room. DEX Save or 2d6 DEX loss. Balancing Ledge Must be crossed to reach whatever lies on the other side. Can be done quite safely without pressure, but when having to run or under attack make a DEX Save or fall to the lower level, taking 1d6 damage and requiring a rope to climb back up. The lower level contains crocodiles (STR 13, DEX 5, WIL 5, 5HP, 1d6+1 damage).

Swinging Blade Trap Eternally swinging over a corridor in a sequence. Can be blocked only by very strong metal pole or other such objects. Passing through without disabling causes 2d6 Damage. Grasping Vines Triggered on nearing strange-looking vines. Take 1d6 damage each turn until you break free. STR Save to break free each turn, otherwise you are immobile. Highly flammable. Trapping Pit False floor is clearly visible unless the character is distracted, sprinting or vision is impaired. Stepping onto the floor forces a DEX Save to avoid falling in. The fall causes 1d6 damage and a metal cage slams shut around victim. An alarm alerts the keepers of the trap. Death Pit As the Trapping Pit, but the long plummet onto metal spikes causes 3d6 STR damage to anyone falling in. Traitors Circle Triggered by entering the circle marked with a symbol depicting a dagger being thrust into a heart. WIL Save or immediately attack your closest ally, continuing until knocked unconscious. If you pass the Save you are thrown out of the circle.

Monsters
Monsters are, by their very nature, different to people and animals. As such they often have special abilities outside of their Ability Scores. An expedition site should contain mostly unique monsters but some examples are given in this section.

Armour: Armoured humanoids or large beasts will have Armour 1. Large, armoured beasts and giant creatures have Armour 2. Only the largest, toughest monsters have Armour 3. Unusual creatures may be immune to certain attacks, but have at least one weakness. Damage: Most monsters will cause 1d6 damage if nothing is mentioned. Some will Attack for extra damage, up to a maximum of 3d6. Ability Score Loss and Death Attacks: Particularly deadly creatures may reduce the targets Ability Score if they cannot make a Save, often resulting in a horrible fate if the score is reduced to zero. A Note on Ability Scores: When assigning Ability Scores 20 is the maximum. A huge monster may look like it should have a STR of 30 or more. Instead, they should have their size represented by attacking for more damage and having a high Armour score.

Hitpoints: Most creatures will have between 1d6 and 5d6hp. Remember that Hitpoints are not purely the ability to absorb physical damage but also the monster's cunning and skill in avoiding harm Killing Monsters: Monsters are treated exactly the same as characters other than noted exceptions. Arcana: While some monsters may use Arcana, some will be able to use Powers without an Arcanum. Monsters do not need to follow the rules.

Example Monsters
The Referee should use these examples as guidance for creating their monsters. Dust Hag STR 8, DEX 13, WIL 11, 13hp. Incredibly paranoid, will try to make a deal with strangers to gain what she can and protect herself. Attacks with claws. Able to turn to dust at will, she ignores physical attacks, but this defence is bypassed by any attacks linked to water. Splashing water will cause 1d6 damage and submersion will cause 3d6. Conjures a veil of dust around her when in danger, momentarily blinding all who fail a DEX Save . Glass Staff (1d6) Arcanum contains Dust Shroud. Eyeball Necklace Arcanum contains The Eye. Dust Shroud: Grey dust starts to envelop the target. At the start of their turn they must pass a WIL Save or lose 1d6 WIL. This is repeated each turn until the target passes their Save. The Eye: Conjures a floating eye that you can direct and see through. Destroying the eye causes the wielder of the eye 1d6 damage, ignoring armour.

Beckoning Shadow STR 10, DEX 17, WIL 13, 6hp. Must stick to a surface, as a normal shadow, but can pass from one side of a surface to another. Will try and lure targets to touch it. Upon touching the shadow the victim loses 1d6 WIL each turn. Escaping the Shadow's grip requires a WIL Save or repelling the Shadow. Immune to normal attacks. Can only manipulate objects touching the surface. The shadow is repelled and eventually destroyed by light. Strange Hunter STR 13, DEX 13, WIL 12, 14hp, Armour 1. Speaks only a bizarre language and hunts the most impressive-looking prey it can find. His shoulder mounts a beam-gun (2d6, disintegration on Critical Damage) and he carries an exotic, curved blade (1d6+1). Thing of Glowing Smoke STR 14, DEX 10, WIL 15, 10hp Immune to normal attacks and any fire-based damage is thrown back at a target of the Thing's choice. The thing can be repelled by wind or cold-based means. Anyone engaging the thing in melee takes 1d6 damage at the end of their turn from the heat alone. Once per hour it can belch smoke to fill a large room. All attacks into the smoke, except those made by the thing, suffer -2 to damage. Ebon Crawler STR 12, DEX 18, WIL 7, 6hp. Attacks with claws (1d6+1). Climbs walls and ceilings effortlessly. Anyone incapacitated or killed is pinned down as the Crawler dislocates its joints and starts to climb into the victim's mouth. On the Crawler's next turn it enters the victim's body, killing them, and enters a month-long hibernation state. Dead Echo STR 10, DEX 8, WIL 8, 12hp. A character is implanted with a Dead Echo if they kill with one of the cursed black guns currently secured in Bastion's Vaults. The echo is always lurking invisibly inches away but only materialises and attacks (1d6) in complete darkness or when the character is looking at their reflection. The echo resembles a mutilated copy of the victim. When light is restored or the victim looks away from their reflection the echo disappears.

Abyssal Turtle STR 19, DEX 6, WIL 6, 20hp, Armour 3 Usually content to avoid anything man-sized in search of larger prey, but relentless when threatened. Attacks with its jaws (2d6). Anyone taking Critical Damage is swallowed whole, losing 1d6 points of STR each round through digestion until they are pulled or cut out. Breathes Steam in a 20ft cone once per hour for 1d6+2 Damage.

The Odd World

The Free States These many states of the northern continent have been united for over a century. Despite the treaty, states remain on the edge of war. Bastion Hub of Mankind With nearly a million citizens, Bastion is the selfproclaimed capital of the Free States. Its skies are black with smoke and its streets bustling with residents from every corner of the world. Canals feed the city with trade from every direction and vast factories produce mass goods and new prototypes. The city sits on a network of tunnels and vaults that hold devices and beings of great power. Their contents are only known and accessed by the ministers that lead the nation's parliament. New ideas and enterprises flourish along with frequent and bloody revolutions. The Union of Man have flooded Bastion's streets with blood in their search for Astral imposters. They claim shape-shifting beings occupy nearly every point of power in the city. Meanwhile, countless sects of astral worshippers have vastly different beliefs and agendas, rarely coexisting peacefully.

Beyond Bastion
Deep Country With so much of the populace driven to cities, stretches of the countryside have been completely abandoned. Those that choose a rural life are often fiercely dismissive of city dwellers. Beyond the fields and villages are ghost towns, ancient ruins and overgrown woods haunted by rumour. The Lesser Cities Bastion is by no means the only industrial city in the Free States. Each State is built around a Capital and lays claim to the lands surrounding it. Dialects, fashions and customs vary hugely, and each has its own attitudes to modern innovations and the Astrals.

Beyond the Free States

The Golden Lands Dotted amongst the feral tribes of the Southern continent are bizarre ruins filled with riches and unnatural landscapes, twisted by Astral influence. These lands are barely mapped and seem to stretch on forever with increasingly alien natives and surroundings. The Polar Ocean The great Polar Ocean stretches as far North as anyone has ventured. Few return and each brings a different story. Some talk of a shining paradise and some of a passage to the stars themselves. The mysteries of this Ocean continue to draw explorers to their death.

Expedition to the Iron Coral

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Under The Iron Coral

The Iron Coral is a recent addition to the coastal waters of Hopesend, a scum-filled fishing town in North Bastion Country. The colourful residents of the town have seen its jagged, metallic form grow out of the sparkling ocean over no more than a month. Gaping holes beckon from its sponge-like shell and the few men to explore inside have not returned. Naturally, this has led to rumours of mysterious powers lurking within the coral's caves. 0: On the Coral Waves lap over the shards of metallic coral that crop out of the frothy sea. The opening in the coral is easy to find and a dangerous climb down leads to 1. Fish are floating unconscious around the coral. 1: The Pit The sound of the ocean echoes strangely through the coral walls. Those looking closely can see tints of red pigment on the east side. This Coral is softer and can be hacked through to provide passage to 2. There is a narrow 20ft chute leading down to 4, a crawlway to 5 and a strange foam blocking the way to 13. There are sea-cucumbers slowly writhing against the ground.

2: The Red Room The walls in here are a deep red coral. There are a few coins (worth 2s) and buckles on the ground. Anyone spending a few moments in here starts to feel faint. Staying after this will require a WIL Save to avoid passing out. Anyone left in contact with the floor is digested in their sleep over an hour by the red coral. Even metal will be digested after a few days. After a few hours the red coral will grow over the entrance to this room again. 3: Escape Route This tunnel is just wide enough to crawl through but is incredibly jagged and rough inside, with a cluster of Spike Molluscs (1d6 damage) troubling the first person to enter, after which they will close up. A half-hour crawl leads to a cellar in town. Part of the tunnel is flooded. 4: Observation Room The transparent coral of this cave shows off an undersea view of the Iron Coral. At this depth there are spots of colour and exotic sea life. Large worm-like creatures suck at the glass, moving to any part of the glass the characters touch. There is a dead husk here. Door to 6, corridor to 7.

5: The Stash This room contains empty boxes made from incredibly thin wood. There are some crumbs of a jerky-like food at the bottom and clear signs that the boxes have been tampered with. A heavy stone box holds six glass jars of tiny green and blue gems. Each jar will sell for 30s but the gems are impossible to collect by hand, appearing to ignore any friction. A secret door can be found by inspecting the south wall closely. 6: Vent A tiny , sloped tunnel leading up from 4 to 5. Far too small for a person to fit through. 7: Signs of Life This rooms walls are coated in a yellow slime, which twitches on occasion. It is harmless but is being feasted upon by a creature resembling two sucker-like feet supporting a glistening black sphere. This is a Juncala and will use its Telepathic Scream if anyone interferes with it or the slime. Stairs lead to 14. Juncala STR 5, DEX 4, WIL 4, 2HP. Does not attack normally. Telepathic Scream: One target, WIL Save or lose 1d6 WIL and bleed from ears. Anyone reduced to WIL 0 by this attack has their head explode. 8: Misshapen Room This metallic room appears to have been beaten out of shape, with a very uneven floor and walls. The ground is covered in a fine powder of bone. Joins onto 18, door to 9 and secret door to 5 for anyone who inspects the wall. 9: Shaft to Nowhere This shaft leads through a valve to the abyss of the ocean, killing anyone who is thrown down. Interfering with the Shaft too long will cause a Crawling Creaker to come up and investigate. Crawling Creaker STR 10, DEX 14, WIL 8, 8HP. Carries a joint-stiffening poison. Anyone taking Critical Damage loses 1d6 DEX. Staircase leads to a passageway blocked by overgrown red coral. Carving it away leads to 27. 10: Drying Room There are several metal cages in this room, all of them empty. If they are interfered with there is a whistle for a few seconds before the room is blasted with heat. 1d6 damage, repeated until the character leaves the room.

11: The Source This stone chamber has a metal pipe at its centre, sticking up from the ground. It seems to be the source of the foam filling this room and those nearby. A grate in the ceiling babbles out an incomprehensible language. Doors lead to 10 and 28. 12: Toad Room A fat, lobster-like creature sits in the corner of this cave. It looks weighed down and cannot move. It is full of sparkling blue dust that is worth 50s if sold. It makes hand gestures but does not speak. Will understand common and attempt to help. Doors lead to 10 and 28. 13: Foam Room This salty foam is harmless, smelling strongly of the sea. Pushing through it leads to 11. 14: The Sentry A 10ft glass dome sits on the floor, filled with swaying water. The water sways towards characters that are near. Breaks on any contact, unleashing a huge worm bursting in as water floods the room. The worm cannot fully enter the room, keeping its back half in the water and not pursuing fleeing opponents. A secret door leads to 15, opened by using any Arcanum on a wall marked with an Astral symbol. A sealed door can be smashed open to lead to an chute. This leads to an underwater cave where the water is held at bay by an invisible field. From here the characters can swim to the surface but risk the attention of an Abyssal Turtle. Huge Worm STR 17, DEX 5, WIL 5, 15HP, Armour 2. Anyone taking Critical Damage is swallowed whole, losing 1d6 points of STR each round through digestion until they are pulled or cut out. 15: The Colony A huge room with a strange braid pattern carved across its walls and ceiling. Lining its walls and corners lined with 12 feeble-looking,pale, boneless humanoids with empty white eyes, Husks. They are huddled around six sacks of silver balls, each worth 2g. Will only fight to defend the balls, clawing feebly. Anyone carrying one of the bags of balls must pass a WIL Save or find themselves unable to leave this chamber. They can be forced out but if left they will slowly decay into a Husk. Husk STR 4, DEX 6, WIL 2, 1HP, claws (1d6-1).

16: Death Hand Store Contains the Death Hand. An Arcanum containing Wither. A character that is killed while carrying this Arcanum lives on as a glowing ghost. 17: Life Hand Store Contains the Life Hand. An Arcanum containing Dire Beasts. 18: Glittering Air The air in here faintly glitters. Anyone using an Arcanum will cause a Glittering Being to materialise and attack. It will not pursue further than this room. Glittering Being STR 16, DEX 10, WIL 15. 12HP. 1d6+1 damage in melee from freezing cold, ignoring armour. Immune to normal weapons. Upon causing Critical Damage the being opens its maw and the target loses 1d6 WIL, causing disintegration on death. Joins with 8. Doors lead to 16 and 17, marked with Astral signs for Death and Life respectively. 27: Behind the Jaws Carving further into this room starts to cause loud roars of pain and the coral starts to bleed. Eventually it becomes too tough to cut through but the creature facing 28 will be dead. Its gut contains a suit of chain armour, a dagger, a longsword and 50s worth of gems. 28: Jaw Trap One wall of this room is covered in red coral, with a large, rocky outcrop. Close inspection will show it is breathing. Getting too close will cause the jaws to snap forward (1d6+2). Jaw Beast (STR 14, DEX 1, WIL 5, Armour 1, 12HP) Immobile. Jaws (1d6+2). Its gut contains a full suit of armour, a dagger, a longsword and 20s worth of gems.

Wandering Encounters
1: A scrawny man and sickly boy scrounging for treasure. 2: A floating glitter cloud that will summon the glittering being if anyone uses an Arcanum. 3: A sudden rush of hot air. 4: Sprayer Thing. 5: A lone, starving husk. 6: A juncala. 7: Coral Climber 8: Slug crate 9: 1d6 Murky Water Missiles (1d6 damage each, continuing every round until washed off with water) 10: Lost fisherman, STR 12, DEX 8, WIL 8, 1d6-1hp, Hand Weapon. Slug Crate STR 8, DEX 1, WIL 5, 4HP A huge metal box crawling on a single sluglike foot. Cannot attack normally. If damaged the crate will whir before launching the lightbeam disc for 2d6 Damage. Coral Climber STR 6, DEX 14, WIL 4, 2HP. Small, brittle-bodied human. Attacks with a dagger. Will follow and try to get off an annoying dust cloud before fleeing. Dust Cloud: DEX Save or subtract 1 from attacks until eyes are washed. Use once per hour. Sprayer Thing STR 6, DEX 8, WIL 5, 2HP Squat, four legged creature with a toad-like body and vast, round, gaping mouth that also functions as a sensory organ. Blasts a cloud of barbs. DEX Save to avoid getting barbs stuck into face. Will hurt but fall harmlessly out of any other body part. After a few minutes they submerge underneath facial skin. A wriggling sensation continues for a few moments. Face starts to scab over, looking quite hideous. Healed by a Full Rest.

The Road to Hopesend and the Fallen Marsh.

A river connects the site of the Iron Coral (West) to the port of Hopesend (East). The marsh to the South of the river is the source of folk tales and rumour. A soggy place with hazardous fog and hideous odour. Each year the land sinks deeper and has become overgrown with thick vegetation. Even the local wildlife has grown less desirable.

3 - Wooden Walkway Leads over a rushing underground river. Two peoples weight will break it, forcing a DEX Save to avoid falling into the water (1d6 damage per round until rescued or passing a DEX Save). 4 - Rope Tunnel A narrow tunnel with a thick rope hanging out of it. Pulling it will reveal the other end is bloody. The tunnel is a dead end besides some old cow bones.

1 - Steps Damp, slippery steps lead down some 20 feet. At the base there is 5ft cube cell with crude self portraits carved on the wall. 2 - Columns At waist-height some pillars have holes you can reach into. There are polished shells giving off a faint sparkle in some of these. Grabbing them triggers metal jaws for 2d6 damage.

5 - Underground Stash A hidden chute leads down into a tiny hideout containing boxes of dried meat, hard bread and some empty liquor bottles. 6 - Riverside Walk Wooden planks form a walkway along the south side of the river.

7 - Lilly Pad Pond The bottom of this pond contains a bag of personal belongings worth 20s including a mirror, shoes and a hairbrush and weighed down with rocks. Bugs will swarm onto anyone not carrying a torch. This causes -1 to Damage through distraction. 8 - Rock Pile A pile of rocks stacked high. Pulling them down reveals a large animal skin sealed with wax and stuffed with dozens of seabirds. They smell foul. Heading further away from the river leads to 10. 9 - Sinking Shack A house half-sunk into the marsh. Mundane items found inside. 10 - Golden Orchard A clearing thick with golden flowers. A blanket and empty box has been left in the middle of the clearing. Harmless insects buzz around. 11 - Watering Hole Two random encounters here, interacting with each other. The water faintly hums. At the very bottom of the deep waterhole the Iron Coral is starting to grow. 12 - Ruined Square The remains of a stone-paved square and well. There are 2d6s of coins at the bottom of the well. 13 - Hoarding Cave Crawling with centipedes. The cave leads into the hoard containing piles of furniture, household items, skeletal corpses and some jewellery worth 2g. 4-in-6 chance it is being guarded by a pair of ape-men. They will defend their hoard but flee when badly hurt. They will continue to harass anyone that steals from them. Swamp Ape-Man: STR 14, DEX 12, WIL 6, 8hp. Equal chance of approaching with curiosity or hostility. Communicates with a form of sign language and can use simple tools. 14 - Body Pit A mass grave has become partially revealed here. Rotten wooden boards are marked with dozens of names. The bodies are heavily decomposed.

15 - Warrior Statue An eroded statue of a warrior wielding an axe and shield. The carving underneath says Felen the Dunmens Scourge. Locals will know this warrior was known for killing off the savage locals some decades ago. 16 - Hunters Hideout A well-built treehouse looks down over the woods. 25% chance of a pair of hunters being present. STR 11, DEX 13, WIL 9, 4HP. Muskets, daggers. 17 - Meat Trap A hung piece of meat dotted with shiny shells. Pulling on the rope will trigger two swinging logs (2d6) that are clearly visible in advance. 18 - Leviathan Corpse The corpse of a huge fish lies rotting on the ground. Has attracted flies and centipedes.

19 - Dark Cave First room: A wide natural cave with a low-ceiling and columns obscuring view. 1d6 poisonous centipedes will try to sneak attack anyone that enters. Others are hiding in holes. Crawlspace leads to next room. Centipede (STR 3, DEX 10, WIL 4, 1hp. Critical Damage causes 1d6 STR loss) Second Room: Natural coral cave with some loose floor. Some dead clams on the ground. First person passing through must pass a DEX Save or break through the ground, causing water to rush in. A field of glittering air will stop it ascending too high. Leads to Passageway. Passageway branches into three. High path leading to the pool room, shaft down to the Anemone Room and carved corridor to the Wheel Room. Pool Room: A carved room that ends in an underground pool, Light will disturb two Darkthings. Darkthing (STR 14, DEX 10, WIL 6, 12hp) Bear-sized floating creature, cloaked in unnatural black smoke. No visible detail other than fleshy bubbles and lashing tendrils for 1d6 Damage. The smoke around them fades when they are killed. Their corpses will also contain a thick chain each wears around their body. Trying to pick this up is painful, as they are intensely cold. May be safely picked up with leather or other thick material but over time will cause the material to stiffen and crack. Causes 1d6 damage per turn of exposure to skin. Anyone who is knocked unconscious from this damage becomes a Darkthing. Wheel Room: Carved room with a huge wheel in the centre. Turning it is quite impossible. Using an Arcanum causes it to start to spin and ascend. This reveals a container at the base of the wheel containing a carved sheet of metal that glows in response to a touch. This is an Arcanum containing Delay Poison (Touched target immune to poison for the rest of the day). Anemone Room: Immense natural chamber filled with clear Anemones. 1d6 drones attack on sight. STR 8, DEX 7, WIL 15, 2HP. Club (1d6), 3d6s. 20 - Deadly Fruit Several trees here bear fruit. Although not deadly they taste foul and birds will squawk as you pick them.

21 - Research Lab A partially submerged stone building containing a cramped lab. Oil burners, flasks, vials of deadly centipede poison (Critical Damage causes 1d6 STR loss). 22 - Steamy Pond A very shallow pond that can be walked through. Warm to the touch and giving off steam. 23 - Cliffside Climb A good place to get a view of the marsh. Seabirds have abandoned nests here. 24 - Thick Wood Trees eventually thin to reveal... Mother Anemone STR 10, DEX 3, WIL 20, 20hp. Can attack up to four targets with tendrils (1d6). Anyone taking Critical Damage is pulled in and paralysed until freed (helper must pass a STR Save to avoid being pulled in themselves). Anyone left for an hour is released as a drone. Has 2d6 drones at her disposal.

Random Encounters 1: Twisted Hulk. STR 16, DEX 10, WIL 10. 14hp. 1d6+2 Club. Nearly human, relatively peaceful, afraid of fire. 2: Rabid Dog. STR 8, DEX 14, WIL 5, 2hp. 3: Lost fisherman, STR 12, DEX 8, WIL 9, 5hp. Spear. 4: Ape-Man: STR 13, DEX 14, WIL 6, 8hp. Equal chance of approaching with curiosity or hostility. Communicates with a form of sign language and can use simple tools. 5: Anemone Drone, STR 8, DEX 7, WIL 15, 2hp. Brainwashed human. Hand Weapon, 1d6s. 6: Two idiots ineffectively hunting monsters with a large piece of meat as bait. WIL 8, 4hp. Muskets, daggers. 7: Ground splitting open to reveal growing red coral. 8: Lost, angry man and family. STR 10, DEX 7, WIL 9, 4hp, Longaxe (1d6+1). 9: Lost horse. STR 10, DEX 7, WIL 8, 6hp.

10: Could have sworn you saw something just then... I guess not. 11: Towering Metal Man. STR 18, DEX 5, WIL 15, 18hp. Armour 3, Stomps (2d6) or fires Deathray (2d6). Astral Blob piloting inside. 12: Investigator STR 7, DEX 12, WIL 11, 6hp, Pistol (1d6), Dagger (1d6). Looking for weird things. 13: The Buzzard STR 9, DEX 14, WIL 12, 7hp, musket (1d6+1) complete scumbag, will follow at a distance to scavenge. 14: Swarmface STR 3, DEX 3, WIL 14, 6hp, ignore nonarea-effect attacks. Talks in gibberish buzztongue. Will point in the right direction if asked. 15: Shifting ground. STR Save to climb out or 1d6 damage each fail. 16: Pillar of red coral rising out of the ground. 17: Chunks of red coral blasting skyward. 18: 7 Looters STR 10, DEX 12, WIL 7, 4hp, Armour 1, Clubs (1d6), Shield Armour. Will try to rob anyone, but flee at the first sign of danger. 19: Metal Man Hand. STR 16, DEX 7, WIL 15, 10hp, Armour 3, 2d6 Damage. 20: Astral Blob STR 4, DEX 4, WIL 20, 13hp, Armour 1. Shuffles around looking for the metal man, which it should be co-piloting. May activate Arcana remotely.

Hopesend Last Port of the North

800 Members. 40 Guards: 7hp, STR 12, 1d6+1 Muskets, 1d6 Swords. 100 Militia: 3hp, 1d6+1 Pole-arms. High Wall: 8hp, Armour 2. Bastion lies one-hundred Miles South. Tunn, a port city, lies fifteen miles East.

People
Joy Bawdy Landlady STR 9, DEX 8, WIL 12, 8HP. Dagger (1d6), 10s. Loves the noise and bustle of a full tavern. Hates being alone since she believed she was abducted by glowing creatures. Only goes into detail when drunk. Foxton Port Overseer STR 9, DEX 10, WIL 7, 7HP. Fine Clothes, Ceremonial Mace (1d6), Hound, 3g. Monitors all traffic in and out of the port. Is lazy and easily mislead by fast talkers. Everyone knows he's incompetent and there are regular calls for him to be replaced. Palro Militia Captain STR 10, DEX 9, WIL 6, 15HP, Armour 1. Sabre (1d6+1), Pistol (1d6), Modern Armour, 10s. Eyepatch and wooden leg. Talks of man-apes in the marsh and his near-death at their hands. Leads a guard of 30 men in protecting the town and training militia. Dobler Wandering Carpenter STR 11, DEX 7, WIL 15, 12HP. Carpentry Tools, Duelling Pistol (1d6+1), 50s. Usually found drinking and telling stories about Polar expeditions he's served on. Fantastic Yar Wrestler and Acrobat STR 14, DEX 18, WIL 10, 7HP. Staff (1d6+1), Ridiculous Outfit, Parrot, 2s. Unnaturally agile and slightly psychic (when she passes a WIL Save). Trying to get enough money to travel to a big city. Turkin Street Thief STR 13, DEX 9, WIL 7, 4HP. Pistol (1d6), Club (1d6), Caltrops, Fire Oil, 2s. Comes out at night to rob travellers. Kate Reclusive Artist STR 6, DEX 12, WIL 5, 2HP. Artist Tools, Locket Arcanum, 10s. Locket Arcanum containing The Madness. Paints the night sky and secretly believes she is receiving prophecies from the stars. Is unaware of the power of her locket, but senses something about it. Capper - Armourer STR 16, DEX 10, WIL 13, 11HP, Armour 1. Cutlass (1d6+1), Modern Armour, 50s. Detests Palro, but begrudgingly supplies him with arms. Has a young apprentice, Pigott, that claims to have seen a metal giant roaming the marshes.

Places
The Frontwalk A row of shops facing out to sea. Your typical grocer, carpenter, armourer, tailor etc. The back of the shops are houses for the traders. The Pickled Goose Tavern and Boardhouse Provides drink, food and beds. Gambling with dice has become extremely popular and encouraged by the Landlady, Joy. The Docks In dire need of repair. The occasional ship's captain will be bellowing out requests for new crew to voyage into the Polar Ocean. Red Cross Tradehouse Here Foxwater oversees all trade going in and out of Hopesend. The Sipping Hole No more than a hole in the wall selling small cups of rum. Frequented by passing sailors more than locals. Backstreets The poorly lit streets that lead from the seafront to most peoples' homes. Militia patrol irregularly at night with lanterns.

Random Happenings and Rumours

1: A huge wave washed over the town with little damage, but leading to rumours of the sea-witch returning. 2: Palro thinks Foxton is letting too many criminals into port and is calling for his replacement. 3: Monks have travelled from far south, claiming their abbey was overrun by shadows. 4: An engineer, has brought a shipment of experimental guns into port. 5: Ape men from the woods are rumoured to have stolen a group of children away from the town. 6: Joy has come down with severe illness and the Pickled Goose has become lawless.