Private Eye
05-15-2008, 01:06 AM
This is a brief write up of our experiences with Hollow Earth Expedition. Now I should say at the outset that I really enjoy pulp games, and have played with most rules systems (D6, D20, SOTC, TFT, SW, TS/SI, TriStat, Unisystem etc) at one time or another, so I was keen to see how HEX worked out.
We used the Adamant Entertainment adventure Dragon Island (adapted from D20).
The two players chose the Big Game Hunter archetype (from the main rulebook) and the Daredevil Pilot archetype (complete with rocket pack) from Secrets of the Surface World. Their respective names: Major Arthur Wellesley and Rick (the rocket) Havoc...
The story started in Shanghai, where they were scheduled to meet the renowned explorer Sheldon Grey. At the hotel they met other potential travellers, including Annie Wilson (intrepid reporter) and Lee Hunter (field biologist).
Sheldon entertained them with stories of his recent trip into the Hindu Kush and persuaded them to join his expedition to find a mysterious island, allegedly inhabited by a lost tribe, as well as "dragons". His only guide was the recently discovered diary of an explorer from several centuries ago.
At this point the celebration dinner was interrupted by an attack by the thuggee cult (actually after the idol Sheldon recovered from their temple, but the characters never found that out..).
Mayhem ensued, with Rick and the Major rapidly discovering that they had excellent firearms skills, but were not so handy in a fist-fight. The fight swayed back and forth, until finally, with the aid of a couple of well-thrown dinner knives and the timely arrival of the local authorities, the thugs were driven off...
The following day, awoken early by Sheldon's efficient aide, Mr Bhakti, the group were picked up from the hotel and driven to a nearby field where Sheldon's dirigible, the Pegasus, was waiting for them. (I used interior maps of the Graf Zeppelin).
The journey took several days, and gave Rick the chance to show off his rocket pack to the rest of the crew, as well as an opportunity to try out the small biplane that the airship carried.
Eventually an island was sighted and the Pegasus reduced altitude. The biplane, out scouting, ran into the outskirts of a tropical storm and hightailed it back to base. On hearing the news, it was decided to take the Pegasus in low into the shelter of a cove, secure it by landing lines and be ready to ride out the storm if it hit. This left a few hours of daylight, so a group set off into the jungle for a quick look round.
Emerging into a clearing they were confronted by a group of natives. Lee Hunter thought they showed unusual racial characteristics and might represent descendants of mythical Lemuria. Unfortunately no-one spoke any language the natives could understand, so laborious signs had to be used. At this point the "conversation" was interrupted by a tall native in bright regalia carrying a staff. He bowed to the party and clearly indicated (in a respectful way) that they should follow him. The party did so and the rest of the natives fell in alongside like an honour guard.
At the foot of the mountains, they emerge at a native village, dominated by a large stone ziggurat with a massive stone block on top - Lee Hunter is excited again by the implications of the architecture. Here they are taken to a large hut and introduced to an overweight middle-aged native who seems to be the chief. Obeying his command to be seated, they all follow the chief's lead in drinking from a communal cup full of what tastes like hot spiced wine.
Cue realisation by the players as the party start falling unconscious all around them...
They awaken in the night, with the wind rising and rain beginning to fall, with their hands tied behind their back, and inside a large bamboo cage. Outside are two guards, and by one of the huts, a pile of their equipment - backpacks, guns, Rick's rocket pack etc.
The Major spends a style point to have a small knife in his boot that the natives have overlooked, and stealthily the party free themselves. Cutting the ropes that lash the bamboo together, they burst free. This time, by lucky rolls they swiftly take out the guards, and (seizing as much equipment as they can) flee into the bush. Except for Rick who calmly stands in the village strapping on the rocket pack as the natives rouse themselves and close in...
At the last second Rick ignites the pack, and soars into the sky over the natives' heads. Sighting the lights of the Pegasus he heads for it at cruising speed, arriving well ahead of the rest of the party. He warns the crew, who man the machine guns and turn on the ship's searchlights.
In the jungle Sheldon and the Major double back to the village - they want to spy on the natives to try to find out what's going on, and why they were captured. As dawn breaks, they see the chief, now bound hand and foot, being lead up the steps of the ziggurat, apparently in their place. The tall native now emerges in full priestly regalia and blows a loud note on a large conch shell. To their horror the note is answered from the skies above, as a huge, winged creature (a pterosaur from the HEX rule book) swoops down and messily butchers the chief before swooping back towards a cave mouth in the distant mountains, carrying his remains in its mouth (beak?).
Everyone heads back to the Pegasus which has ridden out the storm without difficulty. Sheldon is desperate to catch or kill a specimen - or no-one will believe them. The adventurers agree, and soon a small expedition is heading for the mountain as swiftly as possible, keeping a careful watch for the natives they know to be looking for them.
They arrive at a rickety rope bridge across a yawning chasm. Rick crosses first (he can fly if the bridge breaks!) but only get half way before a growl from behind alerts the party to the Smilodon that is pursuing them. Sheldon gives a great oath and rushes across the bridge, hotly followed by Lee and Annie. As the beast rushes forward the Major takes careful aim...
Using some style points to raise his dice pool the Major fires a single, devastating shot even as the creature leaps. The bullet crashes through the thing's skull, but its corpse crashes into the major. His rifle flies from his hand and he and the dead Smilodon plunge over the edge of the chasm together.....
We used the Adamant Entertainment adventure Dragon Island (adapted from D20).
The two players chose the Big Game Hunter archetype (from the main rulebook) and the Daredevil Pilot archetype (complete with rocket pack) from Secrets of the Surface World. Their respective names: Major Arthur Wellesley and Rick (the rocket) Havoc...
The story started in Shanghai, where they were scheduled to meet the renowned explorer Sheldon Grey. At the hotel they met other potential travellers, including Annie Wilson (intrepid reporter) and Lee Hunter (field biologist).
Sheldon entertained them with stories of his recent trip into the Hindu Kush and persuaded them to join his expedition to find a mysterious island, allegedly inhabited by a lost tribe, as well as "dragons". His only guide was the recently discovered diary of an explorer from several centuries ago.
At this point the celebration dinner was interrupted by an attack by the thuggee cult (actually after the idol Sheldon recovered from their temple, but the characters never found that out..).
Mayhem ensued, with Rick and the Major rapidly discovering that they had excellent firearms skills, but were not so handy in a fist-fight. The fight swayed back and forth, until finally, with the aid of a couple of well-thrown dinner knives and the timely arrival of the local authorities, the thugs were driven off...
The following day, awoken early by Sheldon's efficient aide, Mr Bhakti, the group were picked up from the hotel and driven to a nearby field where Sheldon's dirigible, the Pegasus, was waiting for them. (I used interior maps of the Graf Zeppelin).
The journey took several days, and gave Rick the chance to show off his rocket pack to the rest of the crew, as well as an opportunity to try out the small biplane that the airship carried.
Eventually an island was sighted and the Pegasus reduced altitude. The biplane, out scouting, ran into the outskirts of a tropical storm and hightailed it back to base. On hearing the news, it was decided to take the Pegasus in low into the shelter of a cove, secure it by landing lines and be ready to ride out the storm if it hit. This left a few hours of daylight, so a group set off into the jungle for a quick look round.
Emerging into a clearing they were confronted by a group of natives. Lee Hunter thought they showed unusual racial characteristics and might represent descendants of mythical Lemuria. Unfortunately no-one spoke any language the natives could understand, so laborious signs had to be used. At this point the "conversation" was interrupted by a tall native in bright regalia carrying a staff. He bowed to the party and clearly indicated (in a respectful way) that they should follow him. The party did so and the rest of the natives fell in alongside like an honour guard.
At the foot of the mountains, they emerge at a native village, dominated by a large stone ziggurat with a massive stone block on top - Lee Hunter is excited again by the implications of the architecture. Here they are taken to a large hut and introduced to an overweight middle-aged native who seems to be the chief. Obeying his command to be seated, they all follow the chief's lead in drinking from a communal cup full of what tastes like hot spiced wine.
Cue realisation by the players as the party start falling unconscious all around them...
They awaken in the night, with the wind rising and rain beginning to fall, with their hands tied behind their back, and inside a large bamboo cage. Outside are two guards, and by one of the huts, a pile of their equipment - backpacks, guns, Rick's rocket pack etc.
The Major spends a style point to have a small knife in his boot that the natives have overlooked, and stealthily the party free themselves. Cutting the ropes that lash the bamboo together, they burst free. This time, by lucky rolls they swiftly take out the guards, and (seizing as much equipment as they can) flee into the bush. Except for Rick who calmly stands in the village strapping on the rocket pack as the natives rouse themselves and close in...
At the last second Rick ignites the pack, and soars into the sky over the natives' heads. Sighting the lights of the Pegasus he heads for it at cruising speed, arriving well ahead of the rest of the party. He warns the crew, who man the machine guns and turn on the ship's searchlights.
In the jungle Sheldon and the Major double back to the village - they want to spy on the natives to try to find out what's going on, and why they were captured. As dawn breaks, they see the chief, now bound hand and foot, being lead up the steps of the ziggurat, apparently in their place. The tall native now emerges in full priestly regalia and blows a loud note on a large conch shell. To their horror the note is answered from the skies above, as a huge, winged creature (a pterosaur from the HEX rule book) swoops down and messily butchers the chief before swooping back towards a cave mouth in the distant mountains, carrying his remains in its mouth (beak?).
Everyone heads back to the Pegasus which has ridden out the storm without difficulty. Sheldon is desperate to catch or kill a specimen - or no-one will believe them. The adventurers agree, and soon a small expedition is heading for the mountain as swiftly as possible, keeping a careful watch for the natives they know to be looking for them.
They arrive at a rickety rope bridge across a yawning chasm. Rick crosses first (he can fly if the bridge breaks!) but only get half way before a growl from behind alerts the party to the Smilodon that is pursuing them. Sheldon gives a great oath and rushes across the bridge, hotly followed by Lee and Annie. As the beast rushes forward the Major takes careful aim...
Using some style points to raise his dice pool the Major fires a single, devastating shot even as the creature leaps. The bullet crashes through the thing's skull, but its corpse crashes into the major. His rifle flies from his hand and he and the dead Smilodon plunge over the edge of the chasm together.....