The Great Lake

Vast cavern (ten miles around, twinkling wisps). Rocky beaches (crystal pebbles, broken stalactites, ancient debris). Dark waters (lapping waves).

• Gaze across waters: An island (actually the Pharaoh Fish, page 44) is faintly visible in the wisp-light.
• Comb the beaches: Beached hulks, washed up plastics, corroded cargo. Each turn spent combing also roll 1d6: (1) nest of 1d6 cave crabs (as giant crabs) with 100gp in ivory coins, (2–3) 1d12 x 10gp in odd coins, (4) ancient tablets of a sailing voyage to the heart of the world (200gp), (5) ivory slat-scroll of wall of ice, (6) plate inscribed with web.
• Assemble raft: 1 watch. Also scrounge up oars, harpoons, a ‘magically’ light 42-gallon float, and a striped floating cincture.

Initial Exploration

Serviceable Boat

Uncorroded hull (part-covered by dune). Light metal (magnificent). Path by water to Path by shore to 1 watch by raft, 6 turns by boat. Ramps, pipes, dead conveyor belts, hooks.

• Float the boat: 1 watch to dig out and drag to water. Curled 15’ water serpent skeleton in the hull. Fish hooks, poles, oars. Exhausted golem engine.
• Fix golem engine: Needs radiation battery. Reach island in 3 turns.

Further Exploration

Fishing Lodge

Giant stalagmite (200’ high, 50’ around). Carvings on surface (bas-relief of fish & fishers). Open door (carved into the massive formation).

• Poke inside: Old fishing gear. Recent camp with golem stove, spelunking gear, rations (a week or two old), and notebook. Massive safe.
• The notebook: Self-aggrandizing and maudlin diary of one Vic Torbin. Apparently keen to steal the heart of the mountain and prove themselves a great trickster hero.
• Stone safe: Locked. Signs of failed entry attempt. Cursory examination reveals needle trap (1 damage, faded poison). Inside is a lot of fishy folk love poetry and 300gp in acrylic coins. The safe has a false bottom.
• False bottom: Map to the “Daylight River.” A hidden artificial runnel of rapids, chasms, chutes, and deep pools that leads to the Hypostyle Halls (page 16). This one-way path takes 2 watches. Path by shore to Cyclopean stairs, booths, carved pillars. Travel around shores: two paths, 1 watch apart (only 1 visible at a time).

Regional Challenges

6. Small tsunami: Water recedes from shore for 1d4 rounds, exposing 1d6 cave fish (page 10) and a small treasure (page 7). Then it smashes back in a powerful wave (2d8 damage, save vs breath for half). 7. Mismatched waterwight pack: 2d4 crippled waterwights (page 11) walking round the lake. Slow-moving: 60’ (20’). 8. Earthquake liquefaction: Shaking turns pebble beach to consistency of quicksand. Encumbered characters must save vs paralysis or start being sucked under. (Drown in 2d6 rounds.) 9. Fisher golem: A metal monster (as bronze golem, can be harmed by mundane attacks, but damage is halved), all screws, nets, and filleting knives, clatters down from the Temple of Protein (50%) or up from the waters (50%) seeking meat. Its kind old eyes confuse humans for fish. Its ears are gone.

Collapse

1. Waters rise in lapping, hungry waves. Beach disappears. Frenzied fish swirl in knee-deep water. -30’ to base movement rates. +d6 to collapse checks. 2. Long-abandoned five-storey habitation stalactites fall into the lake. Great waves batter the shore. Creatures in water save vs death or drown. 1d6 small treasures (page 7) glitter in nearest ruined stalactite. +d6 to collapse checks. 3. With a heaving burp the waters seal passage to all air-breathers.