Contributor
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Admittedly, this isn't for an Iron Gods campaign (a thing that I've had the poor fortune to have crumble around me), but for a homebrew. However, I'm sure this concept could easily be ported into an Iron Gods campaign, so I'm hoping to crowd-source here!
On page 40 of the Campaign Setting Book Numeria, Land of Fallen Stars, it details the adventuring site of Hollow Garden. Basically, it's the entertainment deck of the starship that suffered a horrible malfunction, turning psychotic and luring adventurers in to subject them to physical and emotional tests.
Sound familiar?
Yeah, I'm basically thinking I could port in a Portal ripoff, and this would be the place to do it. At least it'd get me to shut up about tech in my group, anyway.
Fwiw, here's the text in question detailing the site:
When the ancient starship crash-landed, a large section
of an entertainment deck slammed into the lowlands
of the Numerian Plains. Damaged and without access
to the backup systems of the ship’s main computer,
the subsystem that ran the holographic and modular
entertainment rooms lost what little mind it had. One of
its versatile pleasure mannequins malfunctioned, and
the entirety of the computer was downloaded into its
system when it tried to repair itself amid the wreckage.
Adopting the name of one of the many personalities it
was programmed to impersonate, Celmak Toysiel, the
robot set about repairing its fellow damaged robots
and the holographic emitters, continuing its original
purpose, albeit with much more deadly results.
The entertainment module retains a limited array
of external sensors, which Celmak uses to scan the
surrounding region for new potential victims. When
sentient creatures approach within a mile of the ruin,
the entertainment deck begins to emit odd pulses,
holographic images, and other enticements to lure
travelers into entering. Celmak is particularly fond of
creating idyllic gardens. Those who approach always
find the doors to the ruin’s underground bunker left
invitingly open, with bright lights that only occasionally
flicker to guide creatures down the sloped passage.
Indeed, to all outward appearances, the area looks like
a recently opened and undefended segment of the ship
that is currently malfunctioning, devoid of guardians,
and ripe for plundering. Potential victims walk into
its foyer and discover a reception area, typically a lush
garden (actually a series of clever holograms, synthetic
plants, and robotic animals). Once the explorers enter,
the doors leading out silently shut and lock magnetically
to seal the new participants within. From then on, the
only known escape is death.
Celmak greets explorers through remote speakers
in a dull, androgynous voice. The malfunctioning
mannequin explains to its guests that they have been
chosen to make history. Should the PCs survive, they
will be hailed as heroes among their people and will
become wealthy beyond imagining, for the rewards
of their participation are great. As it speaks, Celmak
scans the newcomers’ minds and seeks out their hopes,
dreams, loves, fears, suspicions, and convictions, using
technology originally designed to allow the robot to
provide clients with the ultimate relaxing experience
without the need for overt requests and orders. It also
gauges newcomers’ abilities so it can create the most
thrilling entertainment possible. Once its analysis is
complete, the doors to the Hollow Garden whisk open,
revealing exactly what sort of participation the host
desires of its guests.
As the PCs traverse the rooms, fight robots, overcome
obstacles, and face myriad holographic illusions, their
thoughts are monitored and their actions recorded by
hidden cameras throughout the dungeon. To further
complicate matters, Celmak often seeks to “heighten
the drama” by releasing clouds of psychoactive drugs,
toxins, and other odorless, invisible gases—these
substances can simulate the effects of spells with the
emotion descriptor such as confusion, rage, or unnatural
lustUM, though many other effects are possible. Each
scene is carefully crafted by the robot specifically to test
its guests’ responses. Periodically, Celmak offers color
commentary, usually snide remarks or insults directed
at those who seem to be having too easy or too difficult
a time in the current scene. In between scenes, the
mannequin provides minor magical or technological
trinkets from its accumulated hoard—either from the
ship’s stores or from past victims’ gear—to participants
whose actions it deems particularly heroic, brave, vile, or
debased. Each item, whether a simple healing potion, a
medlance, or a weapon, is hand-picked to prolong the
entertainment, but somehow never allows (much less
guarantees) success.
Recently, a group of demons from the Worldwound,
led by an incubus named Vlathherex (CE incubusB2
fighter 6) fled through the failed Wardstone border and
took up residence within the Garden. Celmak had never
seen demons before and was impressed by their capacity
for cruelty and perversion. The robot has offered the
outsiders recurring roles as “regular cast members” and
releases them into scenes as desired to heighten the
action. Vlathherex and his allies agreed to the deal as
a way to stay entertained while they wait out potential
pursuers. Yet Vlathherex has begun to worry Celmak
has no intention of allowing them to leave. He and his
demonic allies who are capable of teleportation have
noticed that they are unable to use this ability within the
Hollow Garden. Vlathherex hopes to find out whatever
creates the Garden’s dimensional lock effect and disable
it, and may just be convinced to ally with particularly
skilled explorers in exchange for guaranteed mutual
escape. A treasure trove of wealth and magic items from
fallen victims awaits whoever can shut Celmak down.
My original thoughts were that it could have timed puzzles (accompanied by everyone's favorite buddy, deadly neurotoxin), various combats where a specific strategy is needed, and at the climax? Attach inhibitor memory facets to various places in the facility to bring down the megalomaniacal Celmak.
Post your thoughts on test chambers here!
I plan to use interesting background history from one of my players as "scenario",of course twisted in vile way.