d20 Devil's Workshop Sidetrek Adventure Weekly 09 - Death in the Jungle.pdf - Adventure Weekly - R5700

S I D E T R E K A D V E N T U R E W E E K L Y # 0 9

DEATH IN THE JUNGLE

WRITTEN BY PHILLIP LARWOOD WITH GREG OPPEDISANO

Trapped on the other side of the gate our stalwart

heroes emerge from the ruined temple to find them-

selves staring out over the troodons ancient home

world. In the distance a mysterious mountain range

rises up to the heavens. Setting off for the mountains

the PCs must travel through a humid jungle infested

with terrible monsters and other dangers, a trip that

will test them to the very limits of their endurance

and beyond. Can they escape from Death in the

Jungle!

Welcome to Sidetrek Adventure Weekly -- all

the heart-pounding, adrenaline-pumping action

your players can handle! Each Sidetrek Adventure

Weekly episode throws characters into an action-

packed encounter designed to electrify your game.

Drop any Sidetrek Adventure Weekly directly into

your adventure as a stand-alone combat. Or, if

you dare, link all 12 into one pulse-racing, white-

knuckle sidetrek adventure series. Jump aboard

Sidetrek Adventure Weekly tonight!

LPJ9665

ADVENTURE

LEVEL:

LOW

NPC

INTERACTION:

LOW

THREATS &

TRAPS:

HIGH

MAGIC

REWARDS:

LOW

ADVENTURE

LOCATION:

WILDERNESS

PLAYERS

NEEDED:

4 TO 6

REQUIRES THE USE OF THE DUNGEONS & DRAGONS PLAYER'S HANDBOOK, THIRD EDITION, PUBLISHED BY WIZARDS OF THE COAST, INC. THIS PRODUCT UTILIZES UPDATED MATERIAL FROM THE V.3.5 REVISION.

SIDETREK ADVENTURE WEEKLY RATING SYSTEM

These following icons have been development to make it easier for GMs and players to understand what type

of adventure they will be playing in, what perils that might exist; as they may be either physical, mental or even

political dangers; and the rewards that await them during and at the completion of this adventure. Each icon is

broken down by color and text information which determine the intensity of the adventure.

This Adventure Level is for expert level game-

play and adventureing normally reserved for

character from 16th level or higher.

ADVENTURE

LEVEL:

EXTREME

THREATS &

TRAPS:

MEDIUM

The Threats & Traps at this level are danger-

ous and may cause a loss of up to 25% of the

party members.

MAGIC

REWARDS:

MEDIUM

The Magic Rewards at this level are com-

mon and PCs will have reasonable chances to

acquire and use magic and magical items.

This NPC Interaction means the PCs will

have to deal with an tremendous amount of

non-combat interaction with NPCs in this

adventure.

NPC

INTERACTION:

EXTREME

ADVENTURE

LEVEL:

LOW

This Adventure Level is for beginner game-

play and adventureing normally reserved for

character from 1st to 5th level.

THREATS &

TRAPS:

EXTREME

The Threats & Traps at this level are the most

lethal available and can easely result in a TPK

( Total Party Kill ).

NPC

INTERACTION:

LOW

This NPC Interaction means the PCs will

have very little non-combat interaction in

this adventure.

The Magic Rewards at this level are the high-

est magic and magical items available with

several chances for PCs to acquire and use

them.

MAGIC

REWARDS:

EXTREME

THREATS &

TRAPS:

LOW

The Threats & Traps at this level are intimi-

dating and may cause a loss of up to 10% of

the party members.

ADVENTURE

LEVEL:

HIGH

This Adventure Level is for advanced game-

play and adventureing normally reserved for

character from 11th to 15th level.

MAGIC

REWARDS:

LOW

The Magic Rewards at this level are few and

far between. Rarely will PCs see or use a

magic or magical items.

This NPC Interaction means the PCs will

have to deal with an above average amount

of non-combat interaction with NPCs in this

adventure.

NPC

INTERACTION:

HIGH

ADVENTURE

LOCATION:

DUNGEON

This Adventure Location will take place in

an underground location such as a dungeon

or cavern.

THREATS &

TRAPS:

HIGH

The Threats & Traps at this level are very

dangerous and may cause a loss of up to

50% of the party members.

ADVENTURE

LOCATION:

EVENT

This Adventure Location will take place

based on particular occurrence or incident

inclucing a raid, assassination or trial.

MAGIC

REWARDS:

HIGH

The Magic Rewards at this level are very

common and PCs will get several chances to

acquire and use magic and magical items.

ADVENTURE

LOCATION:

JOURNEY

This Adventure Location will take place

during the events of traveling from location

to another.

ADVENTURE

LEVEL:

MEDIUM

This Adventure Level is for experienced

gameplay and adventureing normally reserved

for character from 6th to 10th level.

ADVENTURE

LOCATION:

URBAN

This Adventure Location will take place in a

civilized based population center or location

as a city, village or town.

This NPC Interaction means the PCs will

have to deal with an average amount of

non-combat interaction with NPCs in this

adventure.

NPC

INTERACTION:

MEDIUM

ADVENTURE

LOCATION:

WILDERNESS

This Adventure Location will take place in

an uncivilized based location as a forest,

desert or jungle.

SIDETREK ADVENTURE WEEKLY: DEATH IN THE JUNGLE

spider, a terrible dinosaur stampede and a

wounded carnotaurus before reaching the

mountains.

EPISODE BACKGROUND

After dealing with Vav and his men, the PCs

find themselves trapped on the troodons

home world with the key for their side of the

gate missing. Removed by primitives many

years ago and treasured as a religious arti-

fact, the key now lies on the other side of a

monster-infested jungle. To restore complete

functionality to the gate, the PCs must brave

the jungle and the perils it contains.

NOTES:

START THE SAW

The SAW starts with the PCs on the other

side of the gate. Any PCs attempting to

move through the gate are forced back by a

field of some kind that cannot be dispelled

( at least not without deactivating the gate

itself ). After a quick search of the gate, the

PCs realize that the key of troodon for their

side of the gate is missing and that they

are effectively trapped until they can get it

back!

USE THIS EPISODE TONIGHT:

AS A STAND ALONE TREK

Tonight’s Hook: The PCs are marooned

in a jungle filled with dinosaurs and other

primordial horrors, and must make their way

back to civilization. The PCs could be in the

jungle as the result of a magical experiment

gone awry or a teleportation trap of some

kind. Alternatively, the PCs could be sent to

explore an ancient rift valley or previously

uncharted mountain plateau by a wealthy

noble, with the mountains in the distance

their ultimate destination.

PCs that search the nearby area discover a

small satchel containing a journal belonging

to one of Vav’s henchmen ( see Handout A ).

PCs reading through the journal discover

much of what they already know about Vav

and his activities, but also learn that Vav

was not entirely sure he could return back

through the gate. After the PCs discover

the fact that Vav was correct in his assump-

tions they see the telltale signs of a campfire

rising from the mountain peaks off in the

distance

Uses for the Episode: This episode is

an extended journey through a dinosaur-

infested jungle. The episode can be used

anytime the PCs are traveling through the

wilds in a tropical setting, though with a bit

of work can be altered for more temperate

environs. The encounters in the episode

can also be separated from the episode as a

whole or rearranged as needed, as they are

not linked.

If for some reason the PCs don’t take the

bait of the campfire they could use a spell

such as augury to determine their next step.

If nothing else, the sheer fact that they

are trapped in an alien world should push

them on through the jungle and towards the

mountains.

Note: If the PCs begin wondering why they

can’t move through the gate, but dinosaurs

( such as the styracosaur in Episode 8 ) and

similar creatures can, allow them a DC 25

Knowledge ( arcana ) check. If the PCs are

successful they realize that some sort of

magical defense system was activated when

the gate was opened preventing sentient

creatures ( those with Int 3 or better ) from

passing through it. Unbeknownst to the PCs,

this measure was added to this gate by the

surviving troodons after “that which came

through the gate” decimated their empire.

With this check, the PCs also realize that

EPISODE SYNOPSIS: FOR THE FULL TREK

Shortly after the PCs defeat Vav and his men

they discover that they cannot use the gate to

return to their own world. After realizing that

the key for their side of the gate is missing,

the PCs must leave the ruined temple and

head towards the mountain range in the

distance. Emerging from the temple, the PCs

must travel through the jungle and brave it

menaces, including a fierce dinosaur-eating

PAGE 3 OR 13

SIDETREK ADVENTURE WEEKLY: DEATH IN THE JUNGLE

both keys must be present to override the

gate’s defenses.

slow or the GM wants to add a little more

realism to his game. If for some reason the

PCs stay put in one spot for any length of

time, they begin suffering the effects of the

ever-present heat.

NOTES:

The Jungle

Emerging from the gloom of the ancient

temple you find yourself standing atop a

small rise. Stretching out before you is a vast

jungle, teeming with the sounds of buzzing

insects and strange birdcalls. Beyond the

jungle is a range of jagged gray mountains

with a plume of smoke rising up into the

heavens.

Effects of Heat: PCs that do not have

protection ( such as endure elements ) must

make a DC 15 Fort save once every hour

to avoid the heat. Those wearing heavy

clothing or armor take a –4 penalty to this

roll and each subsequent Fort save ( after the

first ) is made with a +1 modifier. A PC who

fails this check takes 1d4 points of nonle-

thal damage and becomes fatigued, while

a PC already fatigued becomes exhausted

instead. The normal methods for removing

fatigue and nonlethal damage apply, but PCs

exposed to the heat of the jungle again must

make the saving throws anew.

Note: To reach the mountains the PCs must

travel through the jungle. The map of the

jungle has been left deliberately vague so

GMs can make their own decisions about

how big it is and how long it takes for the

PCs to travel through it. Unlike in some of

the previous episodes no maps have been

provided for the encounters since they are

either relatively straightforward ( as in the

carnotaurus encounter ) or take up too large

an area for an encounter map to be of any

real use ( as in the case of the stampede ).

Movement in the Jungle: Because of the

verdant undergrowth, every square of jungle

entered costs 2 squares of movement unless

the PC has the ability to pass through vege-

tation unimpeded. Running is possible, but

PCs doing so must make a DC 5 Balance

check every round or trip over an exposed

root or hidden log and fall prone.

While the encounters through the jungle

are numbered sequentially they need not

be followed in the order presented. If this

is done however, GMs may need to change

small aspects of each encounter such as the

description of the PCs moving out of the

jungle or the carnotaurus emerging from the

grove of cycads.

Most trees in the jungle are fairly large. Each

tree has hardness 8, AC 3, 600 hit points and

a Climb DC of 15. PCs cannot take 10 on

these checks if rushed or threatened and lose

their Dexterity bonus while climbing.

J1: Dinosaur-Eating Spider (EL 6)

Forcing your way steadily through the under-

growth you stumble upon several ruined

blocks of masonry and badly weathered

statues of sleek bipedal lizards with human-

like hands covered with creeping vines and

unruly webs. Ancient hieroglyphics cover

many of the blocks, but most are barely

discernable due to erosion and vegetation.

Several still magnificent stone arches run

through this area, each baring the head of

a sinister leering dinosaur carved from the

rock.

Traveling through the Jungle

You head off into the jungle towards the

smoke, pushing past unusual plants the likes

of which you have never seen. An iridescent

green dragonfly the size of a sparrow zips

through the air above your heads before

disappearing into the greenery and in the

distance the sound of something large can

be heard moving through the trees, its bulk

splintering the wood like dry kindling.

A trip through the prehistoric jungle can be a

daunting experience, but one that shouldn’t

be dwelt on too much in this adventure

unless the PCs are intent on taking things

These ruins are in far worse shape that the

temple of the troodon and PCs walking

PAGE 4 OR 13

SIDETREK ADVENTURE WEEKLY: DEATH IN THE JUNGLE

amidst the monuments find nothing of

interest. None of the hieroglyphics have

survived the ravages of time, and all perti-

nent information has been lost over the

intervening centuries.

SA: Poison, webs

NOTES:

SQ: Darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.,

vermin traits

Skills: Climb +13, Hide +1 ( +5 in webs ),

Jump +5, Listen +0, Move Silently +5 ( +13

in webs ), Spot +4

Dinosaurs are not the only menace in the

jungle. Monstrous spiders are also common,

casting their webs out of the trees to entangle

unwary land-dwelling dinosaurs or snatching

flying dinosaurs and giant insects right out

of the air. The monstrous dinosaur-eating

spider that uses these ruins as a lair is one

such menace, and sees the PCs as a quick

snack. The spider hides in the trees above

the PCs heads in some webbing disguised

with loose foliage and attacks with surprise

unless one of the PCs spots it first. The PCs

can spot the spider with a DC 15 Spot check.

As soon as the PCs pass below the spider’s

ambush spot read the following:

Feats: –

Abilities: Str 21, Dex 20, Con 19, Int –, Wis

10, Cha 1

Poison ( Ex ): Injury, Fortitude 18, initial and

secondary damage 1d8 Str. The save DC is

Constitution-based.

Tremorsense ( Ex ): The dinosaur-eating

spider can sense the vibrations made by a

creature’s movement. It can pinpoint the

location of any creature touching the ground

or in contact with its webbing within 60

feet.

Suddenly, the air around you is filled with

strands of webbing, and you look upwards

to see an enormous spider with long brown

legs and glistening black eyes land on top of

one of the arches. The monstrosity is bigger

than a warhorse and its long sharp fangs drip

with foul yellow venom.

Webs ( Ex ): The dinosaur-eating spider can

throw a web eight times per day. This is

similar to an attack with a net but has a

maximum range of 50 feet, with a range

increment of 10 feet, and is effective against

targets up to one size category larger than

the spider.

This spider is more dangerous than it looks

as it has recently given birth to a swarm of

young spiders that now cling to its back for

safety. As soon as the PCs see the mother

each should make a DC 10 Spot check.

If they succeed on this check they see the

result of the mother’s labors:

An entangled creature can escape with a

successful DC 18 Escape Artist check or

burst it with a DC 22 Strength check.

Both are standard actions whose checks are

Constitution-based and receive a +4 racial

bonus.

The web has 14 hit points and DR 5/–. The

webbing can support the weight of both the

spider and one other creature, and the spider

can sense prey in contact with its webbing

with the tremorsense ability.

Clinging to the giant spider’s back is a

squirming swarm of bone white spiders,

each no bigger than a human hand.

Dinosaur-Eating Spider ( Elite Huge

Monstrous Spider ) CR 5

Elite Spider Swarm CR 2

Type: N Huge Vermin

Type: N Diminutive Vermin ( swarm )

Combat Stats: HD 8d8+32; hp 68; Init

+5; Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 18 ( touch

13, flat-footed 13 ); BAB +6; Grapple +19;

Melee bite +9 ( 2d6+7 plus poison ); Ranged

+9 touch web +9 ( entangle ); Space/Reach

15 ft./10 ft.; Saves: Fort +10, Ref +7, Will

Combat Stats: HD 2d8+4; hp 13; Init +5;

Spd 20 ft., climb 20 ft.; AC 19 ( touch 19,

flat-footed 14 ); BAB +1; Grapple –; Melee

swarm ( 1d6 plus poison ); Space/Reach 10

ft./0 ft.; Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +1

SA: Distraction, poison

PAGE 5 OR 13

d20 Devil's Workshop Sidetrek Adventure Weekly 09 - Death in the Jungle.pdf

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: