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LAYOVER AT LOSSEND
by Russ Horn
Polyhedron Magazine, #18, pg. 25
The Setting
You are a member of a Pan Galactic Corporation (PGC) Scout and Exploration Team returning to Port Loren from a mining expedition on Gollywog in the White Light system. During the return trip, you are forced to take a five-day layover at Lossend in the Timeon system and wait for another ship. Several members of the Scout and Exploration Team decide to look for temporary employment from local residents.
Characters
| Dirk Manhak: | Human member of the PGC Scout and Exploration Team. |
| Strength/Stamina: | 45/55 |
| Dexerity/Reaction Speed: | 60/60 |
| Intuition/Logic: | 65/75 |
| Personality/Leadership: | 55/45 |
| Skills: | Level 2 Environmental
Level 1 Technician Level 1 Robotics |
| Equipment: | Standard Survival Kit* |
| Sarvo "Lightfoot" Grun: | Yazirian member of the PGC Scout and Exploration Team. |
| Strength/Stamina: | 60/50 |
| Dexerity/Reaction Speed: | 70/70 |
| Intuition/Logic: | 60/50 |
| Personality/Leadership: | 45/45 |
| Skills: | Level 2 Robotics
Level 1 Computer Level 1 Beam Weapons |
| Special Abilities: | Battle Rage (5%)
Gliding Night Vision |
| Equipment: | Standard Survival Kit* |
| Average Wypong: | RW:55 M:45 PS:3 IM:7 RS:65 |
| Stamina: | 65 |
| Equipment: | Bow and eight arrows |
Dirk and Sarvo, who are good friends, are among those
seeking employment on Lossend. A large company has hired them to find the
source of some mysterious radio emissions coming from some hills to the
northwest. They are loaned a jetcopter and some additional equipment for
the job.
Heading in the direction of their destination, they
fly over a section of unexplored coniferous forest; the jetcopter's engine
suddenly quits. Both members are able to ditch safely, using parawings,
and eventually land some distance from where the jetcopter went down. Realizing
that much of their equipment still remains on board the jetcopter, they
start their hike back through the forest to where the wreck should be.
As they come within sight of the wreck, they see
what appears to be three bipedal apelike creatures which are armed with
bows and arrows and which are chanting around the downed jetcopter.
Referee's section
As soon as the Wypongs notice Dirk or Sarvo, they will stop their activities
and wait for them to approach. One of the Wypongs will then come forward
and kneel before the travelers in an act of submission and devotion. Because
of their religious beliefs, they will see Dirk and Sarvo akin to gods.
If Dirk or Sarvo establish communications through the use of the polyvox
or by some other means, they will find that the Wypongs will help them
in any way they can so long as they do not have to leave their territory.
If either Dirk or Sarvo attack, the Wypongs will defend themselves with
bow and arrow. Within five minutes of Dirk and Sarvo's arrival at the crash
site, 1d10 additional Wypongs will arrive at the scene, armed in the same
fashion as the others.
As a source of expanding this scenario, players
may either play one of the provided characters, use them as NPCs, or eliminate
them entirely, substituting already-existing player characters. If you
use more than two player characters, increase the number of Wypongs encountered
propotionately.
The DM
may also wish to have the characters or party complete the adventure to
the source of the unknown radio emissions, or may decide to develop adventures
around the Wypongs.