The Needle Gnome Outpost

Grottoes (hangar-like, lacey dripstone). Lanes (cobblestone). Wells (bottomless).

• Wander lanes: Ghost sounds. Hooves. Carriages. Laughter. Forgotten language.
• Follow sounds: Metallic tripod, a one-way audio time machine. As large as a bullock. Worth 10,000gp. Needle Gnomes use it as a lure. Moving it draws a patrol (2d6 Needle Gnomes, see page 11).
• Examine wells: Ghostly glow. Heat from below. May lead to a kind of hell.

Initial Exploration

Abandoned Villas

Ornate decorations (cupolas, spires, walkways). Gardens (desiccated). Insectile carcasses (ancient, metal). Park (dead, dusty).

• Scout villas: 1 turn per villa. Roll d6: (1) dust and rubble, (2) full of long bones cracked for marrow, (3) ransacked, 1d10 nesting troglodytic giant pill bugs (as giant rats), (4) barricaded, desiccated mummies inside, 1d100gp in lucite jewelry, (5) broken open, concealed treasure chest (1d6 x 100gp in strange currencies), (6) untouched, pristine, with 1d4 plastic guardians (as gargoyles) guarding 1d4 small treasures (page 7).
• Check gardens: 1 turn per garden. Roll d6: (1–4) ornately decorative, choked with mass of dead thorny weeds, (5) 1d4 old graves (1 turn to dig up, 1d100gp per grave), (6) dormant plastic guardian awaiting instructions (as gargoyle, CHA check to command).
• Poke carcasses: Beasts of burden or vehicles. Unclear which. Dead now.
• Visit park: Oddly soothing. Save vs spells or spend 1 watch contemplating end of all things, regain 1hp. Baroque gazebo with a banquet table laden with 2d100 plastic fruits (worth 50gp in the modern world).

Further Exploration

Flower Fortress

Organic crystal fortifications (ramparts, walls, palisades). Rumbling machinery (biological, belching, working). Axial tower (increscent, metallic).

• Scale fortifications: 1d6 Needle Gnome guards (page 11). Beyond: machinery and tower.
• Investigate machinery: Grinding up offerings: remains of miners, mummies, and plastics. Secreting oily liquid: Needle Gnomes’ organic nourishment.
• Enter the tower: Door opens once per watch (wait 1d12 turns). Stairway leads up to a vat chamber where a gelatinous proto-gnome (as gelatinous cube) swims in oily fluid inside a fortified tank, hooked up to the rumbling machinery. This is the rock-folder, who opens passages through solid matter. If attacked, it summons a Needle Gnome patrol (2d6 gnomes, see page 11, arrive in 1d4+1 rounds). If killed, the tower begins folding into itself and retracting into the ground, stopping further Needle Gnome incursions after 2 turns (all future Needle Gnome patrols encountered are changed to 1d6 confused Needle Gnome survivors). Chiselled scout holes, machined arteries, charnel pits. Ladders, square shafts,

Regional Challenges

6. Needle Gnome patrol: 2d6 warriors out in force. If interrogated, reveal they are drawn by the earthquakes that threaten their deep homes. 7. Vicious trapworks: A 40’ long, 10’ wide, 20’ deep pit lined with flexible spikes (1d8 damage if fallen on). Circumventing takes 1 watch. Putting pressure on the spikes summons 2d6 Needle Gnomes in 1d4 turns. 8. Oil spill: Flammable puddles, aerosolized fuel. Open flame triggers a 3d6 fireball. 9. Ancient alarum: A very loud 3-minute wavering tone sounds from everywhere at once (actually from a forgotten past). Followed by the sound of an ear-splitting explosion (save vs paralysis or deafened for 1 watch, save vs wands or struck by falling stalactites for 1d4 damage). Finally, white noise fading to silence.

Collapse

1. A wild howling sound. Needle Gnomes flee for their elevators. Future Needle Gnome patrols are changed to 1d4 terrified Needle Gnome refugees. The axial tower grinds back into the ground. +d6 to collapse checks. 2. Grottoes rumble and shake, stalactites and villas collapse. Lowest WIS character saves vs death or is struck by an ox-sized stalactite (3d6 damage). +d6 to collapse checks. 3. A sudden flash of colourless light comes through the abandoned time machine. The grottoes disappear into history, along with the PCs. Again. Path to toxic rivulets.