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This is an unofficial surface world adventure ofThe
Hollow Earth Expedition Roleplaying Game. It can be
used as a one shot adventure or as part of an ongoing
campaign. This adventure requires at least on
character to have Academics religion or occult. Other
useful skills include Linguistics Code and deciphering.
This is due to the large amount of puzzles found within.
Hollow Earth ExpeditionTMand 2006 Exile
Game Studios, LLC
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In order to solve the puzzle the players will have to
progress through the initiation challenges. They answer
to the key is the order in which the challenges are
completed in.
1. Mercury2. Venus3. Mars4. Jupiter5. Luna6. Sol7. Saturn
On the off chance they figure out the correct
combination to open the doors they do not possess the
LIGHT OF TRUTH so the doors will remain closed.
The other room of note is where the players will
begin their initiation.
The room is covered in cobwebs and dust. On
the floor are several tiled pictures with various symbols
on them. In the far corner you find a large clay pot and
several glasses nearby. The pot is filled with a liquid
that faintly smells of honey. Above the pot is some
writing. It reads: Those who seek the treasures within
must first drink the light of truth.
The idea is to get all the players to drink the
honey wine. If one or more players seem reluctant to
drink the wine it seems to appeal to them and they feel
a strong urge to drink the wine. If they still do not want
to drink it the game master can rule it a plot device and
force them to drink it. It is as if they lose control of
their willpower. Remember to award them a Style
point though. After this the players fall asleep.
However, they do not realize they are asleep. To them
they are just enjoying a glass of wine when a strange
man shows up.
During the course of the adventure the players
may experience a death. If they do take them aside
or pass them a note. To the other characters they died
but they awoke in the room from a dream. The other
players appear to be in restful sleep with normal
breathing and heart rate. If they try and drink the wine
again it is refreshing but nothing else happens.
The Old Man speaks to the players. Greetings
travelers, what is it that you seek?
-The players may not know exactly what they
seek but are likely to have several different answers.
The old man says after they have given their
answers, It seems you do not know what you seek. It
is possible I can help you with that. Would you allow
me to help you?
-The players are going to ask what he can help
them with and what will they find. The old man will
simply say. You already have the answer to that
question ye you are not asking the right questions. I wil
help you find what we all seek, truth. I will guild you
through several tasks. If you can solve each one you
will find what you seek. Now if you are ready follow
me.
The game master may have to adapt several of
the old mans replies to fit within the answers given
here. The old man will never give out any information
on what behind the doors or how to open them only
that they must seek that information themselves. He is
just a guide. If the players refuse to go along with the
old man then the adventure is over and they wake up in
the room still no closer to being able to open the doors.
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Room 1, Corax the RavenThe old man leads you through a series of halls
and turns. Eventually you end up in a door way. The
old man speaks to you. It is said the Raven has the role
of the messenger who comes to entrust Mithras with
his mission. You must be the messenger and deliver the
message to the shrine of Mithras. Before you is a
stone floor. The floor has been divided into squares and
each square has a symbol on it. On a pedestal rest astaff entwined with two serpents. Across the tiled floor
is a statue with his had outstretched awaiting
something to be placed into it.
The players must figure out which tile represents an air
symbol. (Aquarius, Gemini, Libra) That is the safe path
to take. Only the player holding the staff may walk onto
the tiles. If the player steps on the wrong path give
them an Acrobatics check (Hard 4) to keep from falling
through. If the players fall through the floor they
appear to fall to their death to the other players. The
staff reappears in the rack where it started.
Academics Religion (Average 2) The raven is a servant of
Mercury.
Academics Occult (Tough 3) Mercury is ruled by the
element of air.
Academics Religion (Tough 3) The staff is Caduceus, the
mystical staff of Mercury
Linguistics Deciphering or Academics Occult (Average 2)
figure out the signs on the floor are zodiac signs
(Tough 3) Will figure out the elements related to each
zodiac.
Fire Water Earth Air
Sagittarius Pisces Taurus AquariusAries Scorpio Virgo Libra
Leo Cancer Capricorn Gemini
Linguistics code (Vary Hard 5) to figure out the correct
pattern to solve the puzzle. Aquarius, Gemini, Libra
Room 2, Nymphus the BrideThe old man congratulates you on solving your
first task. He says, There are still many tasks before
you. Please follow me to your second task. He leadsyou down another hall and through another door.
Before you is a statue of Venus. Kneeled before the
goddess is a male statue wearing a bridal veil. On a
alter before the statue is a lamp and two glasses. One i
filled with honey wine the other with water. Further
into the room you see a statue of Mithras with his hand
extended ready to grasp something.
The old man speaks. You must become the
Nymphus and pledge you heart to Mithras in order to
receive the light of truth.
One player must place the veil on, drink thehoney wine pick up the cup of water and lamp and take
the water to the statue of Mithras and poor the water
on the statue. Then place his hand in the hand of
Mithras and pledge himself to solve this puzzle. If the
player does not do any of the above steps the puzzle
resets. Nothing bad happens to the players for not
performing the steps in the necessary order. A female
is unable to perform the ritual. If a female tries the
ritual fails and resets its self.
Academics Occult (Tough 3) reveals water represents
love, and the cup represents heart
Academics Religion (Average 2) honey is a sacrament to
the Mithraic mysteries.
Academics Religion (Tough 3) The statue is Nymphus
The male-bride.
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Linguistics Code (Very Hard 5) to figure out a male
character must take the veil of the statue place it on,
drink the honey wine, then pick up the lamp and the
glass of water. He then must walk to the statue of
Mithras poor the water on the statue place his hand in
the statues hand and pledge himself to Mithras.
Room 3 Miles, the SoldierAgain the Old Man leads you down the hall andto another door. Before you is a weapons rack lined
with spears, helmets, and a soldiers kit bags lie on
tables nearby. Loud growling can be heard in the dark
room. The Old Man speaks. Mithras is an invincible
god and the good of good. One must triumph over evil
and be a servant of good to be sworn into his ranks.
Don the gear of a soldier of Mithras and prove you
worth.
The players must put on the helmet and pick up
the spear. Once the player puts on the helmet:
Before you is a beast unlike you have ever seen before.
It has the body of a lion, the wings of a dragon. It has
three heads, one of a lion, one of a goat and one of a
dragon. It bears down upon you with cat like reflexes
ready to make you its next meal.
The Spear is the only weapon that can be
used to defeat the Chimera. Any other weapon
used will not hurt it. The helmet grants a +2
Defense bonus to any player wearing it.
Spear: Damage 3L, Strength 2, speed A, weight 9. A
spear can be used as a melee or ranged weapon with a
range of 10.
Perception (Average 2) to realize there is a symbol on
the helmet
Academics religion or Occult (Average 2) the symbol of
Mars is on the helmet
Academics Mythology or Ancient History (Average 2) To
know that the beast is a Chimera.
If the chimera defeats any of the players they
awaken in the room where they drank the wine while
the rest of the players sleep still. Once the players
defeat the Chimera read the following.
The mighty beast rears its heads in a final
attempt to fight back then falls to the ground dead. A
statue appears. The statue is wearing full roman
military dress and a wreath upon its brow. Its sword is
pointed down with a wreath upon it as if it is offering it
to you. On the base of the statue is an inscription that
reads: Mithras is my wreath and the only wreath I need
To solve the puzzle the players defeat the
Chimera and refuse to take the wreath. If any
player takes the wreath he is found not worthy and
is killed He awakens in the beginning room.
Chimera Follower 3
Archetype:
Mythic
Beast Motivation: Survival
Style: 0 Health: 9
Primary Abilities:
Body: 5 Charisma: 1
Dexterity: 2 Intelligence: 2
Strength: 5 Willpower: 3
Secondary Abilities
Size: 1 Initiative: 6*
Move: 7(14)** Defense: 6
Perception: 5 Stun: 5
Skills Base Levels Rating (Average)
Brawl 5 5 10 5
Stealth 2 1 3 2+
Survival 2 4 6 3
Talents
Flurry -2 per attack for each attack in a full attack
Quick Reflexes +2 Initiative*
Flaw
Bestial cannot use tools or communicate
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Weapons Rating Size Attack Average
Claw 3L -1 12L 6L
Bite 2L -1 11L 5+L
Fire
Breath*** 3L -1 7L 3+L
**When on all 4 a chimera can move twice its movement rate
**Chimera can also fly at its normal movement rate
***A chimera is able to breath fire in a 20 ft cone once every 4 rounds
Its Breath Weapon is fire damage and area of effect Hollow EarthExpedition pg 127
If a character is caught in the flame they will catch fire and take
fire damage until put out
Room 4 Leo, the LionThe Old Man congratulates you on becoming
soldiers in the service of Mithras. He leads you down a
hall and around a few more turns and into another
room. In the next room you see two large jugs. On
closer inspection one jug is filled with water and one
with honey wine. In the center of the room is a large
statue of a lion with the symbol on its brow. The old
man speaks, This Lion serves Mithras. You must purify
yourselves of evil and all contamination. Drink your
Sacrament and kneel before him. Only then can you
continue on your journey
To solve this puzzle
the players must drink the
wine and kneel before the
statue. It breaths fire and
engulfs the players in
flame. If they drank the
water they are killed.
Investigation Search (Average 2) there are scorch marks
around the lions mouth.
Investigation Search (Tough 3) There is a pressure plate
where you would kneel before the lion.
Academics Religion or Occult (Average 2) Fire is
purifying in many religions
Academics Occult or Religion (Hard 4) Water is hostile
to fire and will not allow the fire to clean your soul.
Perception (Average 2) The Lion has a symbol on its
brow.
Academics religion or Occult (Average 2) the symbol is
Jupiter.
Read after the player has chosen to drink the
water or the wine and kneel before the Lion.
Water:
You drink from the jug that contains the water. You
kneel before the lion. The Lion breaths fire upon you.
You are engulfed in flames and burnt to ash.
Wine:
You drink from the jug that contains the Honey wine.
You kneel before the lion. The statue of the lion
breaths fire upon you. It engulfs you cleansing you of
any wrongs you have committed.
Room 5 Perses, the PersianThe Old Man nods approvingly. He leads you out of the
room with the lion and into a large room. This room
has a large statue of a bull in the center of it. Placed
before you is an altar. On the altar you find a jug of
honey and a sickle. The man speaks, Ah the room of
Perses, the Persian, He who harvests the fruits and
preserves them. Anoint thy hands with that which
preserves and harvest the fruits of the bull and return
them to the altar.To solve this puzzle the players need to defeat the Bull.
Once the bull is defeated wheat grows from the spinal
core of the Bull. A player must dip his or her hands in
the honey and harvest the wheat with the sickle, and
then return the wheat to the altar. Anyone defeated by
the bull wakes up at the beginning.
Perception (Average 2) The symbol looks like the moon
of on the handle of the sickle.
Academics religion or Occult (Average 2) the symbol is
Luna
Academics Religion (Hard 4) According to the Persians
honey comes from the moon where the bull slain by
Mithras was also taken and purified to produce new
fruits and plants.
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Giant Bull Statue
Archetype: Guardian Motivation: Survival
Style: 0 Health: 8
Primary Abilities:
Body: 5 Charisma: 0
Dexterity: 2 Intelligence: 0
Strength: 3 Willpower: 2
Secondary Abilities
Size: 1 Initiative: 2
Move: 5(10)* Defense: 6
Perception: 2 Stun: 5
Skills Base Levels Rating (Average)
Brawl 3 5 8
Stealth 2 0 2
Survival 0 6 6
Talents
Diehard
Weapons Rating Size Attack Average
Hornes 10L
Kick 8N*Animals that run on all 4 legs can double their movement
Room 6 Heliodromus, The Courier
of the SunThe Old Man says you are nearly done. Only a
few more trials to go. He leads you to the largest room
you have seen yet. Before you is a large room with a
large oval track in it. On the track are two horse drawn
chariots. One chariot is the color of midnight and its
riders are dressed in dark armor. The other stands
empty and is the color of the dawn. It has a large
golden sun on it.
The Old Man speaks. Heliodromus is the
courier of the sun. As he rides his chariot across the sky
he brings dawn with him, but after the day comes night
Prove you are worth to be true Servants of Mithras.
Bring the dawn of a new day.
The idea is to win the chariot race against the
darkness. The empty chariot has room for 2 people,
one to drive it and the other to defend and attack.
Inside the chariot are two sets of Lorica Segmentata
armor a gladius a shield and 3 javelins.
Lorica segmentata armor +2 Armor Str 2; Roman Shield
+2 armor Str 3; Gladius 2L Str 2 speed A; Javelin 2L Str 2
25 ft range Rate 1 speed A
The chariot is horse Drawn with 2 horses. It has
a maximum speed of 19. Its normal operating speed is
16. It has a defense of 6 Size of 1 and a Structure of 7.
It has a handling of +1
Performance Degration
Structure 4 -2 Handling Speed 14
Structure 3 -4 Handling Speed 9
Players may attempt to throw Javelins into the
chariot. However, when attacking from the side of from
the front the driver and the defender have +2 Defense
from cover. There is no cover bonus when attacking
from the rear.
Players suffer a -1 to attack when throwing orattacking from a moving chariot.
Evasion Action A Player may try to take evasion
actions to avoid damage. This is an opposed drive roll
vs. the attackers roll. If the drive roll is grater then the
attack roll then the driver of the chariot has avoided the
damage. If the attack roll is greater than drive roll the
extra successes are damage.
Side Swipe A player may attempt to sideswipe the
other chariot. Make a drive check vs. Defense. If the
attack is successful the defender drive roll equal to the
amount of damage or lose control.
Full Speed A character driving the chariot may make a
full round action and move at full speed.
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Players may wish to attack the horses. This is
only possible while the chariot is in front of the horses
of beside the other chariot. The Horse has a defense of
6, Health 6, and a stun of 3. If one of the horses is killed
or stun the chariot loses control and wrecks. Secrets of
the Surface World pg 147
The Race is 1 lap winner takes all. If the players
loose the race they may try again as long as they are stillalive.
Have the characters in the chariot roll initiative.
At the start of the race have the drivers roll drive
checks. Whoever rolls more successes plus the handling
modifier of the chariot plus the speed pulls into the
lead. For example at the start of the race chariot A has a
speed of 16 +1(handling) +3 drive successes = 20,
Chariot B has a speed of 16 +1(handling) +2 drive
successes = 19. Chariot A would be in the lead this
round. The chariots then act in initiative order. They
may attack, evade, or do a full speed action. In order
for the chariot to gain the lead from behind the other
Chariot it must move faster than the other.
The Dark Chariot Driver has stats as follows:
Health 4; INIT 4; DEF 6(+2 armor) Drive 4
The Dark Chariot Defender has stats as follows:
Health 4; INIT 4; DEF 8(+2 armor, +2 Shield) Melee 4,
Athletics 4. Gladius 9L, Javelin 9L
Room 7 Pater, The FatherThe Old Man leads you out of the room. He says You
have brought the dawn to another day and defeated
the darkness. You are worthy. Come with me. The Old
Man leads you to another room. In this room you see a
Giant Statue of Mithras before you standing over an
altar. On either side of the altar is a statue of a lion.
The light of day shines over the statue as if the sun its
self is present in the room. Before you is a sacrificial
knife. The old man now stands before you as Mithras.
He says, You have become worthy to become my
servants. Take of the knife and sacrifice the bull in myname and learn the secrets of what brings you here.
Perception (Average 2) The Altar has a symbol on it.
Academics religion or Occult (Average 2) the symbol is
Saturn.
After the players sacrifice the bull:
The light is searing bright and then you are awakeYou
are in the room where you drank the honey wine. It
was all a dream as far as you can tell. Mithras is no
longer in the room with you.
If the players go looking for the rooms where
the trials took place:
Any of the rooms you were previously in youare unable to find. The only other thing you can find is
the statue with the strange key and the massive doors
behind it.
They may not realize it but the order in which
they completed the rituals is the key to the door. If
they need a push in the right direction have the players
make a perception roll (Average 2) to help them
remember their dreams.
What is behind the doors is up to the Game
Master. It could be anything from alantian artifacts to
ancient roman treasure. Or it could be only more
puzzles and clues to lead the players to their next
adventure.
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