City on the Edge

Contents
Introduction page 1
Background page 1
Synopsis page 1
Getting the PCs Involved page 2
Modifying the Adventure page 3
New Rules: Mooks page 4
The Adventure page 5
The Face page 5
Portal to the Sun Below page 8
The Descent page 14
Urbamorr: The City on the Edge page 16
The Return page 46
Bestiarum Vocabulum page 48
Dh'lanns page 48
Floaters page 50
Praithians page 51
Praithian War Snake page 55
Pyronic Sentry page 56
Slithiks page 57
Numenera page 60
Extras page 60
The Sun Below

CREDITS
Writer/Designer John WS Marvin

Project Editor Alison Wells

Cover Designer and Lead Artist Reece Ambrose

Artists Alysha Lach, Gill Pearce, Doug Scott, Alicia Severson, James E. Shields, Justin Wyatt, Britanny Zendejas

Illustrations: All-Rights for Limited Purpose Dread Unicorn Games, LLC

Illustration © 2014, Reece Ambrose Cover, City on the Edge, Dead Praithians, Dh’lann,
Living Airship, Princess Duphreen, Praithian, Slithik
Illustration © 2014, Alicia Severson: Golthiar at Queen’s Gambit, Praithian War Snake, Page Backgrounds
Illustration © 2014, Alysha Lach: Face in the Wall
Illustration © 2014, Britanny Zendegas: Praithian Knight
Illustration © 2014, Doug Scott: Queen’s Tower
Illustration © 2014, Gill Pearce: Queen’s Gambit
Illustration © 2014, James E. Shields: Pyronic Sentry, Slithik Projection
Illustration © 2014, Justin Wyatt: Control Crystal, Floater, Throne Room

Cartographer John WS Marvin

Playtesters Nicole Borchert, Leslie Camacho, Matthew Hanson, Joshua Kidd, James Otting, Aaron Pyne, Jeff Smith,
and John Strickland

© 2014 Dread Unicorn Games, LLC

This product was created under license from Monte Cook Games, LLC.
Numenera and its logo are trademarks of Monte Cook Games, LLC in the U.S.A. and other
countries. All Monte Cook Games characters and character names, and the distinctive likenesses
thereof, are trademarks of Monte Cook Games, LLC.
 City on the Edge

What if I told you there is a world below this one? A world with its own sun? Full of strange peoples,
amazing discoveries, and unspeakable horror? Finding your way down to this world is almost impossible.
Finding a way back up, well, that’s worse.

BACKGROUND THE PRAITHIANS

Older than some of the lights in the night sky, the
world of The Sun Below lies deep under the The praithians are 8-foot (2.4m) tall humanoids with three eyes. Their
surface of the world. The Order of Truth has third eye, in the middle of their forehead, is the focus of their psychic
explored only a tiny fraction. What they have powers. Long ago they retreated from the real world and entered a
found is a fantastic tunnel, or tube, some 5 miles dream world somewhere in the datasphere. Now they appear to be
(8 km) tall by 20 miles (32 km) wide wandering mummies, “alive” only through the use of their psychic powers and
under the surface. So far, entrances to this ancient dream engines.
underworld have only been found in or near the To preserve their desiccated forms, the praithians encased their bodies
Black Riage mountain range. in giant levitating stone heads. Most of these heads sit dormant, while
How long this world extends is unknown. the beings inside devote themselves to dreaming. When praithians
Perhaps it is local, perhaps it spirals under the wake, they can use their psychic powers from within their stone shells.
whole of the Ninth World from pole to pole. This
underground world has seen the rise and fall of
numerous sentient species and their civilizations.
Many of its peoples have barely heard of the
world above, except as legend. Lit by its own sun COREBOOK CALLOUTS
(or suns; that is in dispute), and filled with a thick
atmosphere, the world below hosts many strange When you see this symbol, it’s a reference to a topic in the Numenera
flora, fauna, and things not so easily classified. Corebook. See the corebook for more information about this topic.
These forgotten lands, lit by a white sun that
travels along the ceiling of the underground
world, are unknown to all but a few of the Text in a tinted box like this contains important
inhabitants of the surface of the Ninth World. information for your players. You can either
Much of the world of The Sun Below was once read it aloud or paraphrase it in your own
ruled by the praithians (see above right). A small words.
group of praithians was forced to live outside the
virtual realities to oversee the machines that kept
the dreams alive. These praithians enslaved the
blood-drinking slithik and the hermaphroditic SYNOPSIS
humans called dh’lann.
Urbamorr, the last stronghold of the praithians,
is served intermittently by a few free trader bio-
mechanical airships. One awaits the PCs at a long
dormant station in the ceiling of the world of The
Sun Below–a station that used to connect the
underground world to the surface world but the
entrance to which had been buried in rock and The adventure starts in the aftermath of the Iron
stone for millennia. Wind. The wind has changed a cliff face into flesh,
When the Iron Wind turns a cliff face in the rock and thereby opened a passage into a station that
into flesh, flesh in the form of a talking face, allows travel from the surface of the Ninth World
those above can walk through the open mouth to the lands of The Sun Below. When two human Iron Wind,
and into the darkness of the long slumbering children are kidnapped, the children’s page 135
station. Or something could walk out… grandmother, an Aeon Priest, offers a generous
reward for their return.

1
 The Sun Below

Overcoming obstacles both real and illusionary world has its own sun, moon, weather, and
in the station, the characters find their way to the seasons. The characters discover this world, and
ceiling of the world below. There they discover a strange wonders therein, such as the bio-
bizarre bio-mechanical airship that transports mechanical airship An Domorr, strange and
them down to the praithian city of Urbamorr, unknown new peoples, a dying civilization that
where the children are being held. lives only to dream, and more.
Once in the city, the PCs meet the praithians, a
ruling class made of giant stone heads with
dreamers inside, and an underclass of two races:
The Sun Below starts just outside the city of
the dh’lann and the slithik. The dh’lann are
Uxphon in the Black Riage, but it could be moved
hermaphrodite humans and the slithik are
to take place almost anywhere in the Ninth
strange bloodsucking plants. A praithian noble,
World. The Iron Wind has just wreaked havoc on
Contessa Kyyndance, negotiates for the children’s
the main road in and out of Uxphon along the
release. But unknown to her, the king views the
Deathwater Canyon.
Uxphon (“Oosh-fahn”), surface people as potential slaves. He traps the
To set the start of the adventure elsewhere,
page 135 characters and children in Urbamorr and
simply pick any cliff face to be changed by the
eventually turns on them, attempting to imprison
Iron Wind. The stakes are higher if the cliff face is
them and implant them with mind-control
in a disruptive location, perhaps along an
devices.
important trade route or on a border between
The characters escape and run into a resistance
two kingdoms. If there are no nearby cliffs, the
led, in part, by praithian Princess Duphreen, who
power of the Iron Wind could have created a
wants her people to leave the world of dream
deep ravine.
and return to the material world.
The characters find allies and strike back at the
king. After defeating the king, all seems well until
the queen rouses her dreaming head and
GETTING THE
threatens everyone. Once again into the breach, PCS INVOLVED
the PCs confront the queen and either defeat her All you have to do is get your players to the giant
in combat or convince her to stand down. talking face. Events will proceed from there. Use
Returning to the surface of the Ninth World with one or more of the following hooks or come up
the children, they are greeted as heroes and with your own.
invited deep into the inner circle of the Order of
Truth.

One or more of your player characters already

know a trapper named Barid. Now they see he’s a
The Sun Below: City on the Edge is a story-driven slave wearing an iron collar working in the Kolaj
adventure. What’s written here provides a tannery. As the characters watch, Barid is
framework, but the real story will happen when transferred to a wagon full of other shackled
you and your players travel to Urbamorr, the City slaves.
on the Edge. If the PCs ask where their friend is going, a guard
There are four main story threads. Three of offers, “They’re off to help clear the road west
them nest inside each other like the pieces of a where the Iron Wind ripped through it.”
Russian doll. The outer-most story is a rescue A foreman jumps into the front of the cart. “Shut
story. Two grandchildren of prominent Aeon your faces back there and listen up. The road’s
Priests are kidnapped and taken to Urbamorr, turned to wriggling worms and worse, and you’re
and must be rescued. Inside the rescue story is a going to lay new stones. The Iron Wind left a big
trapped-in-a-foreign-land story. Once in face on the south wall spouting weird prophesies
Urbamorr, the characters will want to return to and such; it’s not your concern. You’re to steer
the surface, but will find their way back blocked. clear of the Order of Truth, they’re dealing with
Inside the trapped story is the story of a slave the face.”
rebellion. Since the slave masters are the ones
blocking the character’s return, helping the
rebellion succeed unlocks the trapped story
which unlocks the rescue story.
The last story thread is, of course, a story of
discovery. There is a whole other world spiraling
through the crust under the Ninth World. This
2
 City on the Edge

You walk up toward the giant face that has

appeared on the cliff side, a remnant of the
Iron Wind’s passage. The face’s flesh is
One of the characters, perhaps a nano or cracking as you watch. Forty feet ahead the
someone with a link to the datasphere, has a Aeon Priest Ellus and two scribes are setting up
dream. a tripod made of colored synth and steel.
Off to your left is a chain gang of prisoners,
You wake up with blinding white light forcing working on repairing the road which the Iron
its way into your room from every window, Wind turned to wriggling white worms. To
door jam, and crack in the walls. Shielding your your right, a young couple flirts and toasts the
eyes, you get up and look out the window. To face with the local fortified wine.
the west, a giant volcano of white light has Behind you is Ellus’ wife, Aeon Priest Mishka,
appeared just outside the city. who stands by a cart with two of their Travonis Ul, page 6
As you watch, it collapses, becoming a giant grandchildren.
hole in the ground shooting white light to the Just as you predicted, things go horribly
sky. wrong. As tentacles rush out of the mouth of
You wake up for real this time, still in your the face and hurl the two scribes at you, what
bed. It is dark. amazing thing do you do to avoid being hit in
the face by crushed scribe?

Start with characters at The Cart, a scene in the

adventure under the headings The Face and The The Cart, page 5
Order of Truth.
Most players will assume if you start them off in
media res, things have already gone horribly
Mishka, an Aeon Priest, invites the characters to wrong. So you make it a little easier on them as a
her Shrine of Truth. There she offers the player reward for getting the story started off with a
characters refreshments and a challenge. “Help bang.
us investigate the giant face that the Iron Wind Cut to The Travonis Ul scene. The characters
has left, and you will each receive 10 shins a day, have a flying scribe to dodge.
double for hazardous duty.” As a reward for jumping right into the action,
She won’t go beyond 15 shins a day, 30 for the characters only have to make a level-2 speed
hazardous duty, but will mention that the PCs will roll to avoid being hit, and any kind of roleplaying
be able to get a share of any cyphers found at the to get out of the way will lower the difficulty at
site, plus the status of assisting the Order of least one step.
Truth.
MODIFYING THE
ADVENTURE
This adventure is designed to challenge any tier
party, from tier one to tier six. Stats are
presented in three groups, separated by /s. The
The characters notice the streets are full of
first stat is for tiers 1 and 2. The second for tiers 3
people going west. Anyone can tell them, “Have
and 4. The last for tiers 5 and 6.
you not heard? There is an amazing face, 300 feet
tall, that the Iron Wind has left on the side of a
cliff.” “I heard it was 500 feet!” “One thousand,
and it will tell you whom you will marry!”
For example: level 3/4/4 is a creature that is
level 3 for groups of first- and second-tier
Many books and movies start with the action characters, and level 4 for those at the third-tier
already rolling, but few rollplaying adventures do. or beyond.
Some players want to hear the story hook before Example two: 1/1/2 travonis uls means there is
they agree to go on the adventure, even if they one travonis ul for first-tier to fourth-tier, and
never reject a hook. Others are fine to jump into two travonis uls for fifth- and sixth-tier.
the action without knowing what it’s all about. You should adjust numbers or difficulties down
This hook is for them. for groups of three players or less, and adjust up

3
 The Sun Below

for groups with six players or more. Even in the or second-tier character. Third- or fourth-tier
toughest fights, the goal is not to kill players, but characters will need to inflict 7 points of damage,
to make players believe they are headed for while fifth-tier and above will need 9 points of
defeat unless they pull off a miracle. That’s when damage to one-shot it.
most players will step up their game and come up A simple bookkeeping trick is to list a group of
with a miracle or two and surprise you. faceless mooks by letters, say A through J. Put a
slash through the letter when the mook takes its
first hit. Do the reverse slash to make an X over
the letter when the mook takes its last hit.
If you are playing The Sun Below: City on the
For beginning tier-one characters, you should be Edge using miniatures, a penny, dragon’s tear, or
aware of how fragile some newly created other marker placed by a 2-hit mook will let
characters can be, especially a Nano with no everyone know it’s half dead.
armor. It’s perfectly OK to focus damage effects
on other characters. Speeding Combat
Remind new players they can use their single- If a combat with 2-hit mooks (or even regular
action recovery in combat. creatures) starts to drag, convert the creatures to
If the party is mostly first tier, replace all 2-hit 1-hit mooks. Mooks that have already taken their
mooks with 1-hit mooks. See the next section for first hit can succumb to their wounds, flee, or
mook rules. surrender–whatever fits the story best.
Why Mooks?
The concept of a mook is
a creature who is both NEW RULES: Optional No-Mook
easy to defeat, yet still
dangerous. Level 2 MOOKS Variant
creatures are easy to
This adventure uses mooks, but you can opt not
Mooks are minor NPCs that exist as cannon to use them. To do away with them, ignore a
defeat, but far from fodder. They show up in great numbers and are
dangerous. creature’s mook status and just use the creature’s
mowed down as fast as they show up. They can level times three as the health of the creature.
The swarm rules add
be dangerous in numbers, but are easily Divide the number of mooks in half since they will
some danger to low level
dispatched. Think about action scenes with scores take longer to kill.
creatures.
of adversaries in your favorite book or movie.
These mook rules add
more danger, and reduce
From Buffy to James Bond, mooks are part of the
the bookkeeping. Less action/adventure genre.
bookkeeping means The goal here is to be able to throw large
more time for the GM to numbers of adversaries at the player characters
worry about story without slowing the game down by needing to
instead of mechanics. manage mooks’ health points.
Don’t be afraid to throw
large numbers of mooks
at the players. And don’t
be surprised when they A 1-hit mook is quite simple and requires zero
get mowed down. bookkeeping. Just change a creature’s health to 1.
Any damage that gets past the creature’s armor
kills it.

The 2-hit mook is good for two hits, hence the

name. They are more colorful and don’t
evaporate as quickly as 1-hit mooks. Once they
have taken any amount of damage twice, they
are down. However, player characters who do a
lot of damage to a lowly mook will expect to take
them out with one shot, so there is a one-shot
threshold added to the mook’s stats. Any single
shot that does this much damage after armor is
taken into account destroys the creature.
For example: 2-hit mook (5/7/9)
This mook takes two hits to kill, but 5 points of
damage will take it down in one shot from a first-

4
 City on the Edge

The characters follow the leads to the Face in the Wall and find the Iron Wind isn’t the strangest thing they
will discover in this story, for beneath their feet is another world.

perhaps a grateful son or daughter–to provide

THE FACE help or clues for future adventures.
The Iron Wind has left a giant face in a cliff wall, Streaming past the hovering skull projection are
where it spouts arcane prophesies. the more persistent people from the City of Pipes.
Whether they are braver or more foolhardy, it’s
hard to tell. Ahead is a cart with the banners of
Leads in: Getting the PCs Involved, page 2 the Order of Truth and a few people. Slaves in
Leads out: Warning, page 5 shackles are shoveling up pavement that has
No matter how the characters initially get been turned to white wriggling worms. A strange
involved, on the way to the face they hear talk of voice is heard just around the bend, but the
a wedding. Gre Thara and Nok Ellel, two Aeon words can’t yet be made out .
When the PCs hear of the
Priests, will marry in a month’s time in or near the upcoming wedding, If
location of your next adventure. WHAT THE IRON WIND they have a friend in the
It is obvious to the PCs this will be a massive Order of Truth from
wedding, and would be a great place to network
HAS WROUGHT earlier adventures, have
All around lie the sad and bizarre results of the Nok Ellel be a son of that
and find leads to further adventures.
visit of the Iron Wind. The road turned to worms; friend.
Gre Thara is the daughter of Mishka Thara and
a tree turned to meat, rancid and disgusting; a
Ellus Pring (see below).
seskii covered in eyes; and so on. The white
worms are edible and taste like paste should a
character chow down on them. This is an
Leads in: Wedding Talk, page 5 opportunity for you to make up anything weird
Leads out: The Order of Truth, page 5 that might interest the characters.
As the road out of the valley twists and turns on
its way out of the Black Riage, it is blocked by a
mob of gawkers. Two food vendors have set up
carts, one selling Dossi kebabs, the other
fermented Aneen milk, a light alcoholic drink that Leads in: Warning , page 5
tastes like yogurt. Just beyond, is a 10-foot (3 m) Leads out: Travonis Ul, page 6
tall floating skull, translucent and wavering.
A telepathic message reaches anyone
A small cart draped with the symbol of the Zill: level 4; 1 point of
approaching: “In the name of the Praithian
Order of Truth stands further along, just past Armor; 20 health
Empire, go back. This area is forbidden to all.”
the next bend of the valley. The cart is hitched
to a zill, a lumbering, red, six-legged reptilian
IS IT SAFE? creature used as a beast of burden in these
An elderly couple stand arm in arm and stare up
parts. People who make it as far as the cart
at the skull. The two, Twyr and Holai Tan, own a
point around the bend (out of sight of the
mill turned by the water of the pipes of Uxphon.
party) and yell, “The Face! The Face in the
Holai, the woman, grabs the arm of one of the
wall!”
characters.
“Is it safe? Those young people have gone The Aeon Priests use the
ahead. Can we?” same word for male and
They will not pass the skull unless the characters THE CART female priests, so
reassure them it is safe. If they choose to move Mishka, an Aeon Priest, is there studying the face Mishka, a woman, is a
on, a messy death awaits them. with a collection of numenera. With her are her priest, not a priestess.
If the characters warn them to stay back, yet go However, if you feel like
two grandchildren, Tuctin and Tar, a boy and girl,
ahead themselves, the couple will spread tales of calling her a priestess, go
and Nillorv the Scribe.
the wisdom and bravery of the characters. You right ahead.
can use the Tans or someone connected to them–

5
 The Sun Below

Mishka: level 4, level 6 Mishka welcomes the characters and introduces

for numenera the scribe and her grandchildren, aged seven and
nine, respectively. Leads in: The Order of Truth, page 5
Scribes: level 2, level 4 “You look like you’ve seen your share of the Leads out: Station Behind the Wall, page 8
for scribing Ninth World, but take a look at that face.” Walking toward Ellus, the characters pass a chain
Mishka points up at the 60-foot (18m) tall face gang working on the road.
Tuctin and Tar: level 1, of violet flesh, or more accurately, at the man Before the characters can reach the priest, the
level 3 for mischief flesh starts ripping off the cliff face with a
with the synth tripod directly in front of the face.
Two other men are with him. All are gawking at sickening wet sound. Ellus takes a step back as
Ellus: level 4, level 6 for 1/1/2 (first- and second-tier groups/second- and
the face as it speaks.
numenera; recorder
Mishka looks at the PCs. “That’s Ellus, the old third-tier/fifth- and sixth-tier) travonis uls crash
tripod (artifact that acts
fool, my husband and fellow priest, with two of out of the decaying mouth of the face. One lifts
as a recorder headband,
but is more bulky and our scribes. I wonder if you could see if he needs the old man up to its mouth and bites him in half.
takes two actions to set any assistance while I record the words of the At the same time it grabs the two scribes and
up), Aeon Priest robes, 32 face. You see the cracks in the violet flesh? They throws them at the nearest group of people, the
shins, infiltrator cypher. weren’t here when we arrived an hour ago. I don’t chain gang, and the players.
think it’s going to last much longer.” The first scribe rag dolls into the chain gang,
Near Ellus, a seemingly drunk young couple flirts knocking five of the dozen slaves over. The
and laughs. The young man flexes his muscle at foreman flees in terror. If you used the Slave
the face, and the woman falls down laughing. Connection plot hook, Barid the slave looks on in
horror.
The second scribe comes flying at the players.
MEET THE FACE Each player must make a level-5 Speed defense
Slave Connection, page 2 The face is droning on, mostly in unknown
roll or be hit for 5 points of damage.
languages. Every once in a while it repeats itself,
Determine initiative as the creature reaches out
speaking the Truth: “The Sun Below,” “Floating
with its tendrils for the characters. The characters
heads tell tales,” “The world below,” and “The
start out at short range, about 40 feet (12m) from
portal station needs repair.” “The daughter sees.
the mouth.
The father cannot. The mother might.”
6
 City on the Edge

grief over the death of her husband or gets Modifying the travonis
COMBAT TIMELINE stunned by a tendril slap. If help is needed, she ul: For first-tier
remains steadfast. characters, the travonis
Surprise Round: When Mishka helps, she comes to the aid of one ul suffers from stasis
· Travonis ul bites Ellus in half, throws of the characters who is attempting to fight the sickness and only has 15
scribe at characters. creature at short or long range. She can help in health. If the characters
· Travonis ul in short range, about 40 one of three ways (player character’s choice). She are fifth- or sixth-tier,
feet (12m) from players at start. there are two full-
can heal the character for 1d6 points; or she can
· (Optional) Death of the Tans. strength travonis uls to
assist, which reduces the difficulty of whatever
contend with.
action is being assisted by one step; or she can
Round One: grant +3 to the character’s damage. Travonis ul: level 5/6/6,
· Mishka gives healing sphere, assists
Speed defense 4/5/5;
character
3 points of Armor;
· Yellow stains appear (15)30/36/36 health;
· GM Intrusion: Travonis ul grabs and Even after just witnessing her husband being Can attack up to 10 foes
crushes a character. Travonis ul bitten in half, somehow Mishka has the presence at short range with
attacks, targets one character with its of mind to slap a purple healing sphere in the tendrils for 6 points, one
mouth, the rest with tendrils. hands of a nearby character. “Use my healing attack with bite as level 5
· If the players win initiative, they may sphere! Squeeze this ball to heal yourself.” for 7/8/8 points; anyone
strike at the onrushing tendrils without ARTIFACT: HEALING struck must make a
having to take a move action. Might defense roll or
SPHERE become stunned for 1
Level: 1d6
Round Two: round; Core page 263.
Form: A healing sphere is a flexible 1-inch (2.5
· Yellow tubes inflate and take cm) diameter sphere of violet synth. GM Intrusion: The
screaming children Effect: The ball heals the same way a healing travonis ul’s target is
· Mishka loans stunner and assists sword does: restoring 1d6 to any stat Pool the overwhelmed by the
character if needed. wielder wishes without requiring an action. flurry of tendrils and
· Travonis ul attacks, targets one Depletion: 1 in 1d10 becomes lost in the
character with its mouth, the rest with crushing mass of the
tendrils. Mishka can also loan out a stunner to someone, creature’s body. The
probably a nano, working at the outer limits of victim automatically
Round Three+: the travonis ul’s range: “Take this, aim the pointy suffers 9/10/10 points of
· Mishka helps a character if needed. end, squeeze the yellow bit!” damage each round
· Travonis ul attacks, targets one Note that this stunner has a depletion: 1-3 in unless they can break
character with its mouth, the rest with 1d6. free (a Might task).
tendrils. If Mishka doesn’t have to move far, she gives her
items away as a free action and can still help in
DEATH OF THE TANS other ways. She can move short distances
Stunner, page 312
If the characters assured the old couple waiting at between characters and still help in the same
Mishka’s stunner
the skull projection that it was safe for them go round. has depletion: 1-3
ahead, a tendril whips across Twyr’s and Holai’s in 1d6
faces, breaking their necks and killing them BE MY HERO!
instantly. Local people will remember the bad The drunken couple are no longer a couple, as the
advice and react accordingly. travonis ul crushes the young man. The woman
In the first round, when the travonis ul gets to (actually a Nibovian Wife named Klaro) quickly
attack, pick one character for a GM Intrusion. scans the characters for a replacement. She picks Nibovian wife,
Good candidates include a character who was a male character, if there is one, and says, “Save page 249
missed by a tentacle or bite attack, a character me. Be my hero!”
with the escape skill so they can show off, or the She uses a cypher to shoot a beam of pink light
character who has the healing sphere. Have the at the character, granting him 6 Speed points. The
travonis ul grab the target and start crushing. extra Speed points may exceed the character’s
normal maximum, but if not used in 28 hours,
HELP IF HELP IS they go away.
If there are no male characters nearby, Klaro will
NEEDED flee the scene, desperate to find a man to replace
The travonis ul is a fearsome opponent. You can the one the travonis ul just killed.
use Mishka as a throttle for this combat. If the
characters don’t need help, she collapses with

Brian Rogers (order #6469782)

 The Sun Below

THE PORTAL TO The

GRANDCHILDREN
ARE TAKEN
Sun Below
Two lines of yellow stain reach from the portal
entrance to the children. In the next round they
puff up into throbbing yellow tubes and suck the
children into the station while the characters fight
Leads in: Travonis Ul, page 6
the travonis ul.
Leads out: Drop Shaft, page 13
If a character leaps to the rescue of the children,
Once, this station connected the world of The Sun
the difficulty level of a rescue is high: 8/9/10.
Below with the surface world. Now, after eons
buried in the rock, the station lies exposed. Metal
and synth walls, long-dormant machines, a few
Even if the rescue attempt is a success, the flickering lights await the characters within.
adventure plays better when the children are All doors are shut with level 4/5/6 numenera
taken away. They become a driver to continue locks. The doors slammed shut once the children
the adventure. Therefore, use a GM Intrusion to passed and the yellow synth tubes deflated. If the
let them be taken. locks are pulled apart, characters can find 1d3-1
Should a character pay 1 xp to avoid your GM cyphers inside their mechanisms.
Intrusion, offer a second GM Intrusion to have
the rescue save only one of the children. Change LOCATION 1:
the descriptions in Urbamorr accordingly. Let the
character choose which child was saved, Tuctin,
TRAVONIS UL STASIS
the 7-year-old boy, or Tar, the 9-year-old girl. CHAMBER
If a character spends a second xp to refuse the The chamber on the left is a large hexagonal
second GM Intrusion, both children are rescued. room with a glowing blue hexagon on the floor.
Perhaps you can have Mishka offer rewards for This is where the travonis ul was held in stasis
exploring “whatever is behind this wall of flesh until the wall of flesh started to collapse, at which
and wherever it leads to.” point it was released and herded outside by sonic
See Mishka’s Gifts, page 13 for items she might walls.
use as incentive if the children are rescued– An image of the travonis ul floats above a
perhaps loaners for searching behind the face, display. A successful level-2 numenera check will
and gifts if the group enters the world of The Sun reveal that while this chamber is unimaginably
Below and reports back to the Order of Truth. old, it was repurposed as a stasis chamber only a
Drop all mention of the children in Urbamorr. thousand years ago.
Opening up the lit control panels nets 1d6
cyphers and 1 oddity.

JOURNAL OF CHARISH KOS

LOCATION 2: FAILED
TRAVONIS UL STASIS
There used to be many passages from the surface world to that of The CHAMBER
Sun Below. The Order of Truth uses the portal below Hidden Naresh, to
If the characters are Fifth- or Sixth-Tier, this
our great cost. I don’t know if I can bring myself to return to that
chamber looks identical to location 1, and they
accursed city. The quest for an easier entrance to the world beneath our
fought both travonis uls before they entered the
world is one I have dedicated my life to. Thus far, to no avail.
portal station. Otherwise, read on…
– Charish Kos, Aeon Priest
The chamber on the right is a large hexagonal
room with a dust-covered floor. A mummified
travonis ul offers no threat.
Digging around the dead control panels lets the
characters find 1d2 cyphers. A successful level-2
numenera check will reveal that while this
chamber is unimaginably old, it was repurposed
as a stasis chamber a thousand years ago, and
failed centuries ago.

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 City on the Edge

Both doors are shut with level 4/5/6 numenera

LOCATION 3: locks.
WAITING ROOM The idea is to make it difficult for the characters
to empathize with Mor-Klish. Will they be OK with
You follow the deflated yellow tubes into a traveling with a blood-drinking nightmare? If they
massive circular chamber, easily 200 feet do, whenever the characters rest, Mor-Klish will
(60m) across. A domed ceiling rises 50 feet be looking for blood. He has a satchel full of little
(15m) above the floor in the center of the creatures, or “kloons” which look like six-legged Kloon level 1, level 3 for
room. Ten feet (3m) above the floor, a rabbits. He’ll take that satchel with him if he joins cuteness
synthsteel balcony encircles the chamber. the characters on the adventure.
Halfway across the chamber, two spiral On the other hand, if the characters find out
staircases lead up to doors on the balcony Mor-Klish is a slave, they might be sympathetic to
level. his plight.
The deflated yellow tubes split here, each If the characters argue or try to run past the
going up a different staircase and into a projection, Mor-Klish will threaten, but he’s really
different door. But these details are almost not prepared for any combat. This post has been
forgotten when you see, rising above you, a manned for millennia, but until the Iron Wind The Mor-Klish hiss: You
opened up the portal station, duty here consisted may want to hiss while
25-foot (8m) tall creature. Its lower half is a
of doing nothing. This station is a cushy posting, roleplaying Mor-Klish or
mass of green slime out of which erupt dozens
and Mor-Klish maneuvered for years to get it. He any other slithik. Slithiks
of tentacles with sharp black pincers on the
will try again to dissuade the party. “Fools! An just love to hiss.
ends. A thick stalk thrusts out the top of the
mass, ending in a black flower with two eyes army of slithik approaches!”
and a toothless mouth. A new projection of perfectly synchronized
slithik marches in from the mists behind the

In ages past, passengers going to or from The Sun

Below waited here. Now Mor-Klish the slithik is
the lone guard for his praithian masters. He will
first try to frighten the characters away using a
giant projection of himself. Mor-Klish would
rather not die, and his control crystal will harm
and perhaps even kill him if he does not stop the
characters from entering the world of The Sun
Below.
The characters feel sharp pain piercing the backs
of their necks as a telepathic message is
delivered.

“Leave this portal immediately. You are

trespassing on the Praithian Empire. We took
two of your young already, and need no
further samples. Perhaps in the future we will
require fresh subjects but, for now, be glad you
have been spared the suffering a sample must
endure.”
The giant monstrosity picks up a person-sized
six-legged, hairy mammal with long, floppy
ears. From the creature’s mouth, a clear tube
with black slime flashes out and impales the
hapless creature. Through the tube, the huge
predator sucks the blood out of the still-
squirming furball.

The giant creature is really a projection of Mor-

Klish, but the characters may not know that yet.
It, and the spiral staircases, are at long range
from where the characters enter the chamber.

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 The Sun Below

chamber. A successful difficulty 4 task will detect Either way, Mor-Klish says: “Pay no attention to
that the sound and movement are a little out of that slithik behind the curtain!”
synch. If Mor-Klish is exposed, he will first try to pull
If the illusion fails to frighten the characters the curtain closed, but this is ineffectual, to say
away, a level-5 detonation (psy) goes off in the the least. If confronted, he will point a pincer at
chamber. his red control crystal, and state, “I am not
permitted to let you pass.” Or “I do not have the
freedom to surrender.”
Mor-Klish has been trying to free himself from
Level: 1d6+2 the control crystal for years now, and will stay
Wearable: Wristband projector (long range) within the letter of his commands but do
Usable: Explosive device (thrown, short range) or everything in his power to make it obvious that
handheld projector (long range) the crystal is responsible for his behavior. He will
Effect: Bursts in an immediate radius, inflicting not ask for help explicitly; he can’t.
Intellect damage equal to the cypher level. A Any combat hit on the crystal will destroy it, and
target can attempt to avoid damage by dodging any reasonable attempt to remove it will be a
(Speed) or resisting (Intellect). difficulty-5 numenera task. Removing it will allow
After that, Mor-Klish will use two beam emitters it to be hacked later. Good ideas are assets.
along the balcony, just beyond the spiral
staircases, for two level-5 attacks that do 4
damage. Breaking the beam emitters is difficulty
3, and using a heavy weapon counts as an asset.

LOCATION 3C: PAY

NO ATTENTION TO
THAT BLOOD-
SUCKING
PLANT/MAN BEHIND
THE CURTAIN
Mor-Klish stands behind a dull gray metallic
curtain, in an alcove on the balcony above the
waiting room. At some point, someone notices
the curtain wave in the breeze. If the characters
have any pets, such as a seskii, the pet will run up
there and pull back the curtain, exposing Mor- Level: 1d6+2
Klish. Form: A ruby-red crystal in the shape of a star
If the characters have no pets, one of the pyramid embedded in the neck of a mind-
characters will note the curtain swaying in a small controlled subject. Nanites grow into the skin and
breeze. connect with nerves in the spinal cord.

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 City on the Edge

Special: The crystal can be hacked with a “I wish I could surrender!” Just as he says that, GM Intrusion: (Use only
numenera roll, with the difficulty equal to the the red crystal embedded in his thickest neck if Mor-Klish is not yet an
level of the crystal. Hacking gives the wearer free stalk glows furiously and commences to burn his ally.) A locked door (3A
will. A hacked crystal acts as a disguise, making it skin. “It burns! Help me!” or 3B) is trapped and a
look like the wearer is still a slave. A hacked The stink of burning flesh mixed with ammonia level-6 explosive
crystal will still give immunity to the praithian fills the air as Mor-Klish’s neck bubbles. detonation goes off with
psychic whirlwind attack. If the characters save him, he will act as an ally. a roar, delivering 6 points
of ambient damage to all
A crystal can be broken open and harvested for
in immediate range.
1d3 – 1 cyphers and 1d3 shins. LOCATION 4:
Effect: Forces the subject to obey praithian
commands. Gives immunity to the praithian CHILLING WEB TRAP Mor-Klish: level 4/5/6;
psychic whirlwind attack. If Mor-Klish is an ally, he will warn the characters, 1/2/3 points of Armor;
Depletion: -- “Security protocols are being followed that will poisoned tentacle: 4/5/6
attempt to freeze you to death if you pass down plus difficulty 4/5/6
that hallway.” He is aware of the trap and if he Might test or lose 3/4/5
Mor-Klish, a slithik savant, is a mound of green Intellect, or 2 attacks w/
goes first he can deactivate it, as long as he wears
and black slime. Eight black tentacles sprout out brain fog ray (short)
or carries the red control crystal.
of the slime, two ending in bright blue metallic Intellect defense roll or
Dozens of sharp brown prisms in the ceiling glow
pincers. Erupting from the top of the slime is a lose 4/5/6 Intellect;
yellow and a level-6 honey-colored web explodes
black stalk, ending in a big black flower-shaped Slithik savant, page 59
to fill the room.
face with two black and gold eyes and a toothless
slit for a mouth. When feeding, clear tubes
dripping with mucous slithers out of his mouth to
drink blood.
Mor-Klish is mind-controlled by a red star
pyramid made of crystal that grows out of the
back of his neck. He wants to get free of his
control crystal, but he can’t act directly upon his
wishes. He attempts to give clues in the hope that
the characters will somehow destroy the crystal.
Mor-Klish speaks the Truth, but is not able to be
direct: “I’m not able to surrender.” Or “I would
like to help you but I am unable to.” He keeps
turning the back of his neck to the characters,
and has no idea they don’t recognize the device.
If Mor-Klish becomes an ally and stays with the
player characters, he attaches himself to one
character and assists that person. No one has to
roll dice for Mor-Klish, instead he is an asset
when negotiating with the slithik rebels and adds
an inability to negotiating with dh’lann.
Otherwise he gives the character he as attached
to the following benefits: the difficulty of
whatever action is being assisted is reduced by
one step. Or, if desired and in combat, +3
damage.
If the character Mor-Klish is attached to
becomes impaired, Mor-Klish becomes visibly
wounded and only gives a +1 on the die roll or a
+1 on damage. If the character becomes
debilitated, Mor-Klish falls over wounded, and
can be of no further help until he is healed.
Mor-Klish’s praithian mind-control crystal can be
broken up for cyphers or modified to allow him to
join the players in Urbamorr.
Mor-Klish is amazed anyone could have gotten
past the beast he had released from the stasis
chamber. He has no desire to die for the
Praithians, whom he hates.

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 The Sun Below
Pyronic Sentry: level PCs caught in the area must use a difficulty 6 through. The flames do 6 points of ambient
4/5/6; 3 points of Armor Might-based action to get out. NPCs break free if damage per round.
(100 vs. heat); 10 their level is higher than the web level. PCs can The flames wrap around the deflated yellow
damage (5 slashing and 5 free their NPC allies with a difficulty 6 Might- tube that captured one of the children, but
heat); cold attacks gain based action. staying on the tube lessens the ambient damage
an asset and ignore Once the trap is sprung, the brown prisms start to 5 points per round.
armor; page 56 to drop chill fog that steals the life out of anyone Standing in the flames is a pyronic sentry who
caught below. Each round the characters suffer 6 has orders to let only slaves pass. The pyronic
ambient-cold damage. sentry is a synthsteel- and glassteel-cladded
GM Intrusion: The
If characters get past the trap and the level automaton whose color changes to match the
pyronic sentry teleports a
character to just in front 4/5/6 locked door beyond it, they can deactivate flames it finds itself in. It looks similar to a large,
of the automaton. The the trap with a level 5/6/7 numenera roll or just hulking armored man, but with long blades for
sentry then attacks as destroy the control panel which will shut it down, hands.
level 7/8/9 with both again as a level 5/6/7 roll. Mor-Klish can give The door to exit the room is secured with a level
bladed hands, doing advice that will reduce the numenera rolls by two 5/6/7 numenera lock. It is programmed to open
double damage and steps. only to slaves. This door has a level 4/5/6 clear
dazing the target for one portal that can be broken to open the door from
round if it hits. The target LOCATION 5: HALL the other side, which is not locked.
will also take 6 points of
ambient heat damage OF FLAME LOCATION 6: GOING
per round. Mor-Klish can assist the characters exactly as he
could in Location 4, but this time the characters DOWN
You teleport into the face heat. This vaulted ceramosteel chamber contains two
flames and feel the The room is full of green flames from floor to massive circular shafts going straight down. They
searing hot-bladed hands ceiling making the hall difficult terrain. Moving at are for travel to and from the airship dock on the
of the automaton spike normal speed requires two actions to get roof of the world of The Sun Below.
deep into your body.
Your flesh sizzles like
meat on a spit.

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The shaft on the west has a reverse gravity field Travonis Ul. “Keep it if you wish.” Quirk: Emits a
that slowly weakens to a slightly positive gravity high-pitched chime for every point healed.
field toward the top, where the PCs stand. (On If you have another artifact you’d like to put on
Discovery of the portal to
the way back, characters can step into the shaft offer, go for it. Try to match the power of these The Sun Below is worth 1
from below and fall up for kilometers, then step artifacts. In other words, make them good, but xp per character.
out into this chamber.) not game changing. The gifts from Mishka
The shaft on the east is the opposite; it has If a player character still has the stunner, Mishka are worth another 1 xp
normal gravity until just before the very bottom, asks for it back. If they argue to keep it, she’ll per character.
where it slows the descent of visitors from the agree but warn them it’s very old and running low
world above and lets them walk off onto the on power. Remember this stunner depletes on a
airship platform. 1-3 on 1d6.
Both flattened synth tubes terminate at the
eastern shaft, their open, lightweight ends Bounding boots,
hanging just 5 feet (1.5 m) down into the shaft. page 302
Before the players decide to jump in, they hear The nibovian wife clings to whichever Brain bud,
footsteps following their path to this chamber. character attracted her attention outside the page 302
face and implores, “Please, I wish to go with Cypher bag,
Mishka and Nillorv, her scribe assistant, enter
you, as your companion. I can make you very… page 303
carrying artifacts that may help the characters
comfortable.” Skill bud,
find and return the missing children. Just behind
page 311
them is Klaro (the nibovian wife) who breathlessly Disruption blade,
rushes up to “her hero.” page 303
LOCATION 7+
If you want to add more locations to this ancient
Healing sphere, page 7
Mishka allows each member to pick one item. If station, there are a lot of options. Add doors,
you want to go faster, you could pre-select an corridors, new levels, whatever strikes your fancy.
item for each character and just hand them out Anything could be behind locked doors that Mor-
Klish never opened… Zoach Floater: level
when Mishka runs up. Some players really like
5/6/7, level 4/5/6 for
choices, others like them too much and can never Speed defense; tendril
make up their minds. squeeze for 5/6/7 plus
Another option is to watch the clock, and after Leads in: Station Behind the Wall, page 8 Might defense roll or lose
10 minutes or so, let Mishka decide. Leads out: Top of the World, page 14 4/5/6 Speed; Can reach
Eventually, the characters will jump into the targets up to short
Metabolism bud Quirk: When the character rolls down shaft. If the characters balk, Mishka will range. Slashing weapons
prompt them to jump down, mentioning the +2 damage, blunt
a 1 on a Speed test, she sneezes out loud, in
urgency to save Tuctin and Tar. weapons -1 damage. Any
addition to your GM Intrusion.
As the characters free fall in the dark shaft, natural 17+ hit with a
Bounding boots Quirk: Feet feel cold after a heat- or fire-based attack
jump. allow them an Intellect (perception) test if they
will cause it to explode
Brain bud Quirk: When the character rolls a 1 on have some way of seeing in the dark. Below them
for its level in fire
an Intellect test, she calls out random numbers, in is something that looks like a cross between a
damage to all within
addition to your GM Intrusion. wagon-sized, bio-mechanical jellyfish with eyes immediate range.
Cypher bag Quirk: Outgasses a cold fog when a and a hot-air balloon. Page 50
cypher is removed from the bag. A big eye on the top of the
Skill bud Any of the skills on page 25 of the Core creature, a zoach floater, GM Intrusion: The
Book, including specific esoteries. Mishka just blinks at them, and tendrils floater grabs a character
happens to have the skill the character wants. reach around and up at the and stuffs them into its
Quirks are varied based on the skill chosen. onrushing characters. A zoach digestive sack. Each
Examples: (Repair) The character’s eyes glow soft floater has a bio-mechanical round any organic armor
red when he repairs himself. (Healing) The body as big as a house, full of loses 1 AP and the
character has to make a difficulty 3 Intellect roll gas bags and numenera. Its character takes 5/6/7
to not whistle while he heals. tendrils drape down 50 feet points of ambient
Disruption blade This may be any bladed (15m) or more and grab damage. Characters
vegetation, animals, and inside the sack when the
weapon, such as an axe. Mishka just happens to
people. floater explodes take
have the character’s favorite type of bladed
A difficulty 4/5/6 Speed test double damage.
weapon. Quirk: If the blade hits while activated, it
whistles a jaunty tune. allows a character to avoid the
Healing sphere The one Mishka loaned to the creature and fall on by it. The
character at the start of the battle with the floater will have one round to

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 The Sun Below

grab at the speeding characters before they fall

out of reach. THE DESCENT
A miss indicates the character plows into the Wherein the characters ride the An Domorr down
creature, doing 2/3/4 points of ambient damage from the ceiling of the underground world to a
to themselves and the floater. The character must massive shelf near it’s floor.
make a difficulty 5/6/7 Might defense check or be
stunned for one round.

Leads in: Top of the World, page 14

Leads out: Going Down, page 16

JOURNAL OF CHARISH KOS

Leads in: Drop Shaft, page 13
Leads out: An Domorr, page 14 The An Domorr is unlike The other living
At the bottom of the shaft is a dimly lit chamber airships that fly under the Sun Below. The crew
with a ceramosteel ramp leading down to an is most peculiar, but friendly, at least to me. I
airship dock. Four- and five-story buildings lie in suspect not only are they not from this reality,
ruin along the dock. Searching the ruins for an but that they exist mostly outside of it. Perhaps
hour yields 1d2 cyphers. Captain Klorsh and Lebby are just projections
Waiting at the end of the dock is a large into our universe. What their motives are, I
biomechanical airship with a massive eye blinking have no idea. And yet, I wish them well.
at the characters. It’s night now in the lands of – Charish Kos, Aeon Priest
The Sun Below, but the living airship is
illuminated by clusters of bright lights on the
dock. CAPTAIN KLORSH
A gangplank leads to an opening in the airship,
beside which sits a big, gray-haired man wearing
AND LEBBY
Mutton-chopped Captain Klorsh and pigtailed
some kind of uniform with epaulets and braid.
Lebby are not what they seem to be. Other
The man is blue and sports long, mutton-chop
airships are crewed by people of one kind or
whiskers. He is sitting on a stool, smoking a pipe
another, but Klorsh and Lebby are entities
and reading a book.

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beyond understanding. Aboard the An Domorr, She’s interested in the new guests. She has
their powers have no meaningful bounds. It’s a heard of the children, but says they left on a
mystery why their powers don’t seem to work different ship, the An Forgish. She likes to play
outside the airship (except when they do), or why house and will peer into the character’s minds
they take such delight in masquerading as people. and make dishes they loved as children.
Captain Klorsh is usually smoking his pipe. “’Tis Everything she does seems to use primitive
carved from a fine travonis ul tusk, don’t you technologies (fire, hauling water by pail, and so
know?” on), but if her work is examined closely, it has a
They do not answer questions about themselves dream-like quality, things moving and changing
in a straightforward manner. Klorsh always has a form when no one is looking.
twinkle in his eye and treats any questions as a
game. He raises his eyebrows, puffs his pipe, RIVER OF STARS
claps his hands, and changes the subject after the If Lebby is questioned about the ship, her powers,
vaguest of replies. the captain, or pretty much anything, she’ll
Lebby will rock back and forth and gush at how eventually mention the River of Stars. She can
amazing everything is. “I’m only 11” is one of her show inquiring characters the river, or if they are
stock answers. (In a playtest, one player following her around, she’ll lead them there. She
responded, “Yeah, 11 galactic rotations…”) She is often has to go down to the river with a bucket
thrilled to show off the River of Stars, but she and take it back to the engine room.
can’t be bothered to explain how anything works. Captain Klorsh is a little less forthcoming, but
Perhaps she knows that the characters minds are with a puff of his pipe and a twinkle in his eye,
too small and fragile to hold the truth. he’ll say, “Why not ask Lebby? She likes to show
When the characters ask for the airship to go off a bit, quite natural for a girl of her age.”
faster, change course, or for help outside the Across a catwalk between gas bags, down a
airship, they are told, “Sorry, we have to stick to ladder and through a hatch, is where the
the pattern.” That’s the stock answer for anything characters find the River of Stars.
the players want that you would like to withhold. The chamber seems too big to fit in this part of
It’s up to the characters to save the day, not the the airship. It’s dimly lit and smells like a
NPCs. mountain stream. A river flows in a figure 8,
The airship will pass first a violet moon and then always going downhill, which is quite a trick. And
the actual Sun Below on the way down, a 20-hour in the river there are stars, pinwheels made of
descent. Unlike the sun in the world above, this stars, and glowing gases.
sun is white. By a bend in the river hangs a swing. Lebby
jumps onto the swing and starts pumping her
KLARO, NIBOVIAN legs. “I do love it here. Anything can happen.
That’s what makes the ship go.”
WIFE Lebby will talk happily, without saying much. If
This woman wants to make babies! Three hours
Klaro has had a chance to get knocked up, Lebby
after sexual congress with her hero, Klaro will Abykos, page 230
will hint about Klaro’s pregnant state. “The
give birth to a baby abykos. Three hours after
Captain said that woman is a born breeder. What
that, the creature will be full grown and go after
do you think he means by that?”
the hero.
If anyone touches or drinks from the river, they
“Daddy must die!”
have visions of Tuctin and Tar. The children are
Unless the characters have done something to
together in a large dark room with huge stone
really annoy Captain Klorsh or Lebby, one of them
heads floating by in the darkness. The children sit
will wag a finger at the abykos, who will then be
on a softly glowing white dais.
well behaved and not try to kill its father–unless
Tuctin, the boy, says, “Don’t worry, Gran will
the creature leaves the An Domorr. Then, the
send help.”
creature will revert to its usual cheerful self.
“I am worried. The big heads are scary,” says
The Captain’s Table is a great setting for the
Tar, the girl. “Except the ‘tessa. She’s nice.”
blessed event. Lebby can bind a
Characters who stay away from the river see
creature to her will with
their friends relax and fall asleep.
LEBBY no chance of failure. She
has a small pocket knife
“I’m 11.” Lebby appears as a young human girl, CAPTAINS TABLE that does as many points
freckled, tanned face, dark red hair in pigtails.
Captain Klorsh invites the characters to dinner at of damage as she wants
She’s actually an ancient intelligence with godlike
his table. Lebby attends as well. There, served by and ignores all armor,
powers, but only aboard the An Domorr. She is but only when wielded by
the cook, a floating silver ball with multiple arms,
the mind of the An Domorr. Lebby.
everyone is treated to a sumptuous meal. Braised

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moof roots, plinkgala puree, feebling jelly on Urbamorr is something of a sandbox. Scenes
toast (“So fresh, it’s still moving!”), and cragworm have natural entrances and exits, marked Leads In
kabobs are what the Captain is digging into, but and Leads Out, but be prepared to jump
the cook can make just about any kind of meal anywhere in response to the actions of your
the characters ask for. player characters. You should be prepared to let
If Mor-Klish is there, he gets a bowl of chilled the PCs investigate as they see fit, as long as
bubble-blood, which, true to its name, bubbles everyone is having fun.
like red champagne. If it’s time to get things moving again, you can
If Klaro is there, this is a great time for her to spring the Treachery event on the PCs anytime
give birth (if she’s had sex with a male character). you wish.
She tucks in with a vengeance, and visibly swells.
Before desert comes she leans back and births
the abykos. After nursing a bit, it turns on the
Leads in: Going Down, page 16
father until Lebby wags a finger.
Leads out: The Queen's Head Inn, page 18; King’s
“Kids,” she says, as if that explains anything.
Move, page 25
Urbamorr has obviously seen better days. The
buildings are impressive, with wide skyways and
Leads in: An Domorr, page 14 tall towers, but some have collapsed and others
Leads out: Landing, page 16 seem to be determined to do so.
Looking out a window, characters can spy a
Ordinary praithian, page
51 group of androgynous people carrying long tubes
As the bio-mechanical ship, the An Domorr,
with horns on the end, something like a cross
descends, you can see a giant, rounded shelf
between a didgeridoo and an alpine horn, lining
Royal praithian, page 52 sticking out of the wall of the lands under The
up in formation. The musicians come in varying
Sun Below.
shades of purple and wear matching uniforms.
"That's the Praithian Empire," says Captain
A successful difficulty 3 perception roll reveals a
Klorsh, pulling on his left mutton-chop. "Or
red crystal in the shape of a star pyramid growing
what's left of it anyway. Praithians used to rule
out of the back of each musician’s neck. It is the
many of the lands of The Sun Below, from wall-
same type of crystal that Mor-Klish had on the
to-wall and for thousands of miles along the
back of his neck stalk.
length of the world.
Floating next to the band are three 13-foot (4m)
"We are in a big tube. Well, more of a
tall stone heads. The heads are longer and
rounded rectangle in cross section. The
narrower than human heads, and each sports a
atmosphere is denser than up in your world
glowing third eye in the middle of the forehead
above, which accounts for a lot of the floaters
and a long, narrow chin. As the gangway is
and flyers.
"When you’re ready to go back up to your
world, just bang the gong in the landing zone.
KLARO
An airship should be by within a few days,
After giving birth to the abykos, Klaro is
weeks at the most. If you are within our
probably not the most popular NPC aboard the
pattern at the time, we'll be happy to take you
An Domorr. But she’s plucky and cheerful and
back up."
will want to “stand by her man.” Of course,
Klaro, assuming she’s both alive and free to
without Lebby to control Klaro’s children, any
act, wraps her arms around “her hero” and
future offspring will come hunting for said
whispers in his ear. "Mmmmm, I do so love
man.
seeing new places, don't you?"
“Let’s go meet the stone heads,” she says. It’s
up to the characters to keep her on the ship. If
they don’t, she’ll tag along and try to make
more babies.
And what of the child? The abykos is
URBAMORR: THE enraptured by the River of Stars, and will stay
aboard unless forced off. Since the abykos
CITY ON THE presents no threat to the crew, Lebby is happy
EDGE to let it stay aboard, keeping it from attacking
other passengers.
The praithian city of Urbamorr is where Tuctin
Perhaps the creature will lose itself in the
and Tar were taken, and getting them back will
River of Stars. Or maybe it will leave the
prove challenging to the characters.
airship one day, and come looking for its
father. Family life can be complicated.
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lowered to the ground, the hovering head in the it will be rebuffed, and they will be insulted or
center drifts closer. worse. But if they refuse to give up, it could work.
As the characters descend the gangplank, they When the characters ask for the children, the
hear a voice in their heads. It’s the giant stone contessa reassures them that the children are
head speaking to them telepathically. It is a royal being well treated and are healthy. She confides
praithian. (The other floating heads are ordinary that she is confident that negotiations to free the
praithians.) children should not be a problem.
“Welcome to Urbamorr and the Praithian “While we’re waiting for King Umbral, who
Empire. I am Contessa Kyyndance, and these are needs to give the final approval for the release of
Blauble and Tunyafa. What brings you to our fair the children, I have arranged lodging for you in
city?” the Queen’s Head Inn. Although the outside is not
In truth, Contessa Kyyndance has been following much to look at, I can assure you the
the characters’ progress since they fought the accommodations are first rate.”
travonis ul. Her goal is to keep the characters
mollified and send them back to what she calls MOR-KLISH
“the world above” as happy as possible. Ideally, Mor-Klish would love to help the characters overthrow the praithians.
she would love to arrange for trade, since the Assuming he’s with them and his crystal has been hacked but not
machinery that runs the Praithian Empire is giving destroyed, he constantly brings up the spectre of Tuctin and Tar as mind-
out, and the slaves that support the empire are controlled slaves to try to enlist the PCs on the side of the rebels.
near revolt. But if Mor-Klish steps off the An Domorr without a control crystal, he’ll
What complicates the contessa’s plans is the be instantly declared a criminal terrorist and taken away.
madness of King Umbral. He’s in no mood to Someone with numenera or crafting skill could fake a working crystal.
surrender his new curiosities, the two children of Captain Klorsh or Lebby could conjure one up. But it’s up to the
the world above. characters to think of this.
Yet while a diplomatic solution is improbable, it On the other hand, Mor-Klish is no soldier and is happy to be free. He
could be carried off if the characters are master would not object to leaving with the airship in search of a new life
diplomats and come up with success after elsewhere. If you’re worried that your players will need all the help they
success. Let the characters try diplomacy. Initially, can get, see if you can get Mor into the party. Most of the time, he’d be a
great asset. You can always kill him off or otherwise sideline him later.

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Might defense roll, and requires a new Might

defense roll.
Dh’lanns are violet- Inhaling until debilitated forces the character
skinned hermaphroditic into unconsciousness for 8 hours and the effects
Leads in: Landing, page 16
humans, and are of the vapors last until the character returns to
Leads out: The Bridge, page 19; Work Pit 509,
common in the world of the world above. Any longer-lasting effects are up
page 21; Meet the Dh’lann Resistance, page 22;
The Sun Below. Given to the GM, but this is a dangerous narcotic.
King’s Move, page 25
their hermaphroditic
The Queen’s Head Inn is in an old tower that,
nature, they don’t use BREESH-VASS
gender-based pronouns. sometime in the past, lost its top. Obviously the
circular tower was once much taller. The One purple-skinned slave, Breesh-Vass, observes
In this text the singular
characters are given a whole floor just under The the characters and lingers when all other slaves
they is used instead of he
or she. Bridge (the uppermost remaining floor). leave. Breesh-Vass will approach whichever
The rooms are large and comfortable. character they deem most likely to sympathize
Characters are given their own suites, all of which with the dh’lann rebellion. Any character
open onto a large circular lounge in the center. obviously friendly with Mor-Klish the slithik
Ordinary Dh’lann: level Antigravity tubes, one up and one down, provide (should he be with the characters) will be
2; ranged attack: access to the floors below. They work much like shunned. Any character who seems like a martial
mindslice as level 3, 2 the larger drop tubes in the portal station to the leader or openly displays any sign of the Order of
Intellect damage; page world above. Truth will be sought out.
48 Shelves full of empty bottles, glasses, and mugs Like most dh’lann, Breesh-Vass neither trusts
line the rooms. The walls are ceramostone nor likes slithiks who, after all, are blood drinkers.
covered with tapestries depicting the wild dreams If Mor-Klish is with the characters, there will be
of the praithians. obvious tension between the dh’lann and the
Dh’lann slaves will bring food, drink, and dream- slithik.
Mor-Klish, if present, Breesh-Vass is looking for allies to assist in a
vapor bowls (level 5). These are ceramic bowls
volunteers to take slave revolt. The dh’lann will explore the
characters to Work Pit
the size of soup bowls from which hallucinogenic
gasses waft. characters’ willingness to arm the rebels. Breesh
509.
asks for as many detonation (singularity) cyphers
as the characters have.
CYPHER: PRAITHIAN “Some of us have sabotaged our control crystals
DREAM-VAPOR BOWL and can pass as slaves. We will find out where the
Level: 1d6+1 children you seek are being held in return for
Usable: If a character squeezes the bowl, it will numenera that can be used as weapons.”
emit a fragrant vapor that smells of freshly mown Breesh offers to share knowledge on control
grass for 28 hours. crystals, which will give a character an asset to
Effect: Inhaling the vapor will cost the character sabotage one.
the cypher’s level in points of Intellect and give
the feeling of floating in a dream-world full of
giant floating three-eyed faces and swirling stars.
For each inhalation, the character must make a Breesh’s spouse is Purl-Vass, a dh’lann who
Might defense roll (the first inhalation is at doesn't like non-hermaphroditic people such as
Detonation
(Singularity), difficulty 1) or move one step down the damage the praithians and slithiks and probably the player
page 285 track and lose 1 more point of Intellect. For the characters as well. Breesh is willing to overlook
next hour, the character will experience the this prejudice, but if the characters later meet
following effects: Purl, they can expect a frosty welcome.
· All social interaction tests with praithians Breesh is attempting to keep three secrets from
gain an asset because the character is more the characters. Allow characters an Intellect roll,
closely attuned to the praithians mindset. 4/5/6 difficulty, to notice that the dh’lann
· All social interaction tests with anti- appears to be holding something back. If they
praithian rebels gain an inability because the press Breesh on what the dh’lann is hiding,
rebels recognize what they deem as a Breesh will give up secret three.
weakness in the character. Secrets one and two will only come out by active
· All Intellect defense rolls gain an inability intimidation, mind reading, or other intrusive
because the character’s mental defenses measures.
have been lowered. One: While Breesh professes to care about the
Each inhalation after the first adds an extra hour captured children’s welfare, the dh’lann agent
to the duration, adds one to the difficulty of the would be willing to leave the children to their fate
if the dh’lann resistance doesn’t get help against
the praithians.
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Breesh has the stats of a dh’lann captain, with

BREESH vs. MOR persuasion and sneaking at +2 level. Like the
If Mor-Klish is present, there is obvious tension other slaves who work in the queen’s Head Inn,
between him and Breesh. Have whichever of Breesh is well dressed in flowing robes.
these two your PCs trust the least accuse the Underneath he wears liquid ceramosteel armor.
other of being a praithian spy and launch into
an immediate attack, imploring the PCs to
help. ARTIFACT: LIQUID
“That one is a spy, working for the praithian CERAMOSTEEL
king. Help me take them down!”
If the PCs intervene, they can stop the fight ARMOR
by many means, including getting in the Level: 1d6 + 2
middle, using intimidation, or outright combat. Form: Appears to be an ever-moving covering of
Either of the NPCs will surrender at half translucent emerald liquid.
health. Effect: When placed on the wearer’s flesh, the
If the PCs stand back and just watch, there is armor grafts on permanently. It provides Armor Treachery, page 24
no reason to roll dice. Breesh is the better equal to half its level (round up) but does not
fighter, and after taking a few poisoned hinder movement or tire the wearer in any way
tentacle hits, the dh’lann will have a bleeding (no Might cost or Speed reduction). Breesh-Vass: level 4/5/6,
Mor-Klish on the floor. There is a moment When the armor is struck, the liquid instantly level 5/6/7 for mindslice;
where the PCs can intervene, and then the hardens into solid ceramosteel, protecting the 3/3/4 points of armor;
dagger cuts through the slithik’s neck stalk and wearer. 15/18/21 health; 2 melee
decapitates him. Depletion: — attacks per round:
Should things get so out of hand that one of GM Intrusion: The armor flows away from the dagger: 8/9/10 or 1
the NPCs actually is slain, then the survivor impact, giving no protection–worse, it also ranged: mindslice
really is a praithian spy. Such a traitor would remembers the damage and duplicates it on (onslaught, Intellect
have a mind shield bud in their brain. They another part of the wearer's body. attack only) for 5/6/7
would allow the characters to examine their Counts as zero armor and damage is doubled. Intellect damage.
hacked praithian brain-control crystal, which This is a great intrusion when the wearer rolls a Persuasion and sneaking
1 or just anytime they are getting a little too at +2 level; hacked mind-
would “prove” they are on the characters’
cocky about their fancy armor. control crystal; mind
side. Somehow in combat, the dead NPC’s
shield bud; Dh’lann
crystal was destroyed. Sheer bad luck. Captain, page 49
PON-VASS
Two: Breesh tries to keep the dh’lanns mindslice Unless the characters decide to immediately
ability a secret since it might come in handy if the follow Breesh to meet the dh’lann rebels or
follow Mor to meet the slithik ones, a newly Mind Shield Bud, page 24
characters betray the rebels to the praithians.
Three: Most importantly, there are dh’lann arrived dh’lann slave, Pon-Vass, will come to their
rebels and there are slithik rebels, but they are rooms. Pon is a dh’lann slave who shows up once
not working together. Breesh not only knows of the characters have settled in. “If you wish to Mor-Klish: level 4/5/6;
the slithik rebels and their hideout in Work Pit learn more about the children from the world armor: 1/2/3, poisoned
509, the dh’lann agent rightly believe them to be above, please follow me to the Bridge.” tentacle: 4/5/6 plus
stronger than the dh’lann faction. Pon doesn’t know much more than that he was difficulty 4/5/6 Might
Of course, if both rebel groups unite, they will sent to escort the newcomers to the Bridge. “All test or lose 3/4/5
will be answered on the Bridge.” Intellect, or 2 attacks w/
be stronger still. There is some movement in this
brain fog ray (short)
direction, but not much trust. It will take the
Intellect defense roll or
characters meeting with both sides and the
lose 4/5/6 Intellect;
praithian princess, whom they will meet later, to page 59
Leads in: The Queens Head Inn, page 18
push them together.
Leads out: Work Pit 509, page 21; Meet the
Dh’lann Resistance, page 22;Children Released,
DID SOMEONE SAY SECRET TRAITOR? page 23; Treachery, page 24; King’s Move, page
The praithians are quite aware of the brewing 25
rebellion. While they underestimate the The top floor of the tower that holds the Queen's
danger to their rule, they have turned a senior Head Inn is known as the Bridge. It is here that
member of the rebels into their spy. mere mortals, mostly visiting diplomats and
At any point in the adventure (once the traders, can talk to the dreaming praithians.
characters have contacted the rebels), you can The entire floor is one big circular space with
cut to the Treachery encounter (page 24). Any opulent but faded appointments. The ceiling is 20
NPC of your choosing can be the traitor. feet (6m) tall, high enough for a praithian to float

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 The Sun Below

through. The amber-colored floor appears to be “He’s a King, he can do what he wants with you.
one giant piece of polished wood, 200 feet (60m) Still, the children would be free.”
in diameter. Arranged throughout the chamber Assuming the players don’t jump on this opening
are glowing ceramic bowls with intoxicating offer, they should start negotiation. Deceiving,
Praithian dream-vapor smoke. Tiny glowing slugs with gossamer wings intimidation, and persuasion skills can all be used
bowl, page 18 flitter about. to strike a better bargain. The contessa wants to
Inhaling from the red or green bowls puts make a deal, so the negotiation starts at difficulty
characters in an altered state. They lose 1 5. Good arguments count as assets. She won’t
Intellect point per inhalation. They also feel no give the children away for nothing, and any deal
pain and are immune to fear for 10 minutes per will require approval from the king. He will go
Royal praithian, page 52 inhalation. along with a successful deal, but grumble
The blue bowls are praithian dream-vapor nonetheless.
Dh'lann soldier, page 49 bowls. If a deal is struck, the contessa will look on the
Contessa Kyyndance, the royal praithian who characters as allies, no matter what direction the
met the characters upon landing, floats near the king takes. The children will be delivered to the
center of the room. Nearby is a person-sized slab queen’s Head Inn.
of what looks like black glass. There seems to be If the characters accept the opening offer, two
motion inside the glass. A dozen other shiny black of them trade themselves for the children. It’s
glass slabs are scattered throughout the room. split the party time. Run Prison (page 26) with the
Praithian dreamers appear in the glass to two; the others continue on.
communicate with the real world.
Androgynous dh’lann slaves offer drinks and DEAD BUT STILL
finger foods. They can identify the vapor bowls if
asked. “The red and green bowls are colored DREAMING
snake mist. You’ll feel no pain with those. The While the party is speaking to the king, pick one
blue bowls have the dream vapor, very strong.” character to get pulled into another conversation.
Hidden under illusions of abstract sculptures are This character hears a male voice in their head.
two squads of dh’lann soldiers, 6/8/10 per squad. “Hey, you. Turn around. Shhhh. I’m in the black
They stay hidden unless needed. glass near the back wall. See me?”
The contessa turns toward the black glass next Across the room a tall, thin, and three-eyed
to her. “Welcome. Let me show you the children.” person waves from within a black glass. “Listen,
Inside the glass Tuctin and Tar fly about, arms I’m dead but still dreaming. Can you help me?”
outstretched. They seem to be having a good If the character freaks out and alerts the king,
time, playing in the dream. the players are treated to scenes of giant knights
Before the characters get a chance to interact moving from glass to glass, rounding up
with the children, King Umbral barges in, ranting miscreants who yell, “We want life! No more
GM Intrusion: King in disjointed phrases. “Why are you working for
Umbral takes a dislike to my daughter?”
a particular character. “Perhaps I should wage war on the world above
“Feed that one to the for your impudence.”
slithik, now!” “Why are these humans not enslaved yet?”
A successful difficulty 5 “If you wake my wife, Queen Grieva, you'll really
negotiation will get him be sorry!”
to forget about it. If the The contessa offers to deal with the creatures
roll fails, the soldiers from the world above. “Sire, I can strike a bargain
appear to take the with these people that will benefit all of us.”
miscreant away to The king is not amused. “I’m tired of listening to
prison. you, spinning your mental cobwebs. I hate the
real world!”
Prison, page 26 The contessa proposes a trade to establish good
will, suggesting that two of the characters trade
themselves for the two children. They would then
stay as “guests” of the king.
“And then perhaps a slave trade from the world
above. Is that acceptable? Two of you trade
places with the children, and the king can keep
two people from the world above?”
Should they ask about the conditions in which
the king would keep the characters, she hesitates.
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dreams! Follow the princess!” before being

roughed up and taken away.
If the character has a mental conversation with
the dreaming praithian, they get a glimpse of why
this dream world has become a nightmare.
“Get word to the princess. We know she crossed
over and lives again. Tell her there are many who
want to follow, but the king and queen stand in
our way. Maybe from the outside she can find a
way to set us free. Tell her we need her help, the
king’s knights are closing in on us. Thank you.
“And don’t let the Contessa talk you into
becoming the king’s prisoner. You’re no use to us
in the dungeons.”

Leads in: Queen's Head Inn, page 18; The Bridge,

page 19; Meet the Dh’lann Resistance, page 22;
Children Released, page 23
Leads out: The Bridge, page 19; Meet the Dh’lann
Resistance, page 22; Treachery, page 24; King's
Move, page 25 Ordinary slithik, page 57
The way to Work Pit 509 is about 2 hours down,
under the city of Urbamorr, through dark Slithik soldier, page 58
hallways full of steam, down slick ladders, and
Both Tasss and Pierce are slithik captains (unless
over catwalks that span unfathomable chasms. Slithik captain, page 58
you designate one as a secret traitor working for
The meeting place by the pit is dark and
the praithians).
dangerous with a ring of ceramosteel catwalks
Besides the captains, there are a dozen ordinary
over a void with no visible bottom leaking toxic
slithiks and eight slithik soldiers in the room. The
vapors. Big moving equipment swings back and
soldiers will fight as a squad if it comes to battle.
forth, up and down, leaving no safe place to
stand. Red steam stinking of ammonia and oil
wafts up in the characters’ faces. The catwalk is NEGOTIATIONS WITH
full of slithiks, many of whom show visible scars, SLITHIK REBELS
some are obviously crippled. Buckets of blood for If the characters attempt to negotiate some sort
the slithiks to drink line alcoves. The lighting is of alliance with the slithik rebels, they can
low and intermittent and the sound of pounding persuade them by winning a difficulty 5 roll. Skills Lasting Damage:
machinery makes hearing difficult. (Intellect) that might be used include: deceiving, Core p. 114
Slithiks in the chamber include Tasss-Klish, who intimidation, and persuasion.
starts out as hostile to the characters. Tasss is a
traditionalist, and dislikes other races, except as
food. She distrusts King Umbral’s daughter GM Intrusion: During the negotiations with the slithiks, a massive
Princess Duphreen. Tasss will insult the machine abruptly careens into a character, as a level 5/6/7 attack, doing
characters and try to keep them off balance. 4/5/6 damage. If struck, the character must make a successful level 4/5/6
However, if the characters can turn her into an Speed defense roll or be knocked into the seemingly bottomless pit.
ally, she’ll be invaluable. Other characters can attempt a difficulty 4/5/6 task to save the
“Just as we are ready to claim our rights, look character.
what drops out of the sky to trip us up. How much The bottom is 500 feet (150m) below, which would cause 50 points of
is King Umbral paying you?” ambient damage. But every 100 feet (30m), another mechanical arm
Pierce-Klish, also present, leads a moderate swings out below the plummeting the character. The character can
faction that is willing to work with other races. attempt two difficulty 5 rolls, one to hit the arm, the other to hold on
Pierce considers himself an ally of Princess (Might or Speed). For each 100 feet (30m) fallen, the character takes 10
Duphreen. points of ambient damage.
When the characters first arrive, Tasss and This is a great time to use lasting damage rules.
Pierce are having a heated discussion in slith, the If a character survives the fall, the slithiks send a rescue party that
slithik language. Every so often, the characters comes out of a side tunnel at the level of the fallen character. The slithiks
hear their names mentioned. then bring the character back. Characters may accompany the slithiks if
they wish.

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Good arguments are assets.

Add 1 to the difficulty if the players wish to
STOREHOUSE
create a slithik alliance with the dh’lann. CEILING
While speaking to the slithik, the following clues Inside the massive storeroom the characters are
will come to light unless things go pear-shaped cautioned not to touch the ceiling, which pulses
Mor-Klish, if present, fast: with changing colors. Should a PC climb up one of
counts as an asset in · Princess Duphreen is said to be working to the many stacks of shipping crates and make
negotiations with the overthrow the Praithian Empire. She wants physical contact with the ceiling, they will
slithik rebels. the praithians to leave the world of dreams experience vivid hallucinations. The effect counts
and return to the real world. as dazed, and lasts 1 hour per touch.
· Slithiks are ready for a slave revolt. “You ask why does the ceiling do that?,” says a
· Slithiks are divided on their view of humans: Dh’lann. “We have no idea.”
people or food? A character who has touched the ceiling must
succeed on a difficulty-5 Intellect roll to keep
ARTIFACT: SLITHIK from touching it again.

BRAIN SPIKE NEGOTIATIONS WITH

Level: 1d6 + 4
Form: A hairy seed pod, like a lumpy coconut, THE DH’LANN
with synth tubes looping in and out. Bubbly green
liquid pulses through the tubes.
RESISTANCE
Waiting to meet the characters are about a
Effect: This device emits a faint green long-range
hundred ordinary dh’lann, thirty dh’lann soldiers,
beam that affects only organic creatures with
and Purl-Vass, Breesh’s spouse. Purl-Vass is a
brains. The brain spike inflicts its level in Intellect
dh’lann captain. (Of course, either Purl or Breesh
damage. The target must make an Intellect roll or
Dh’lann soldier, page 49 could be the secret traitor.) While Breesh is for an
become dazed for one round.
alliance with the player characters and even with
This device is a rapid-fire weapon and thus can
Princess Duphreen and the slithik rebels, Purl is
Ordinary dh'lann, page be used with the spray or arc spray abilities that
not. In fact, Purl is openly antagonistic to the
48 some glaives and jacks have, but each “round of
characters, assuming they are not
ammo” used or each additional target selected
hermaphrodites.
requires an additional depletion roll.
Dh’lann captain, page 49 The meeting is noisy, punctuated by cat-calls,
Depletion: 1 in 1d10
cheering, and boos. Breesh and Purl do most of
You feel a frigid spike of ice slide into your brain.
the negotiation. While they seem quite set in
Thoughts flee and you just want the pain to stop.
their ways and willing to score points against
each other, the characters notice they will often

Leads in: Queen's Head Inn, page 18; The Bridge,

GM Intrusion: during the page 19; Work Pit 509, page 21; Children
negotiations with the Released, page 23
dh’lanns, Aklo, a rebel Leads out: The Bridge, page 19; Work Pit 509,
soldier, accuses a player page 21; Treachery, page 24; King's Move, page
character of being a 25
praithian spy.
If the characters agree to meet the dh’lann
“They'll turn on us at the
resistance, they are taken underground via a
first opportunity! Kill this
one now!”
levitating cargo hauler that smells of dirt and
vegetables to a broken down-storehouse
surrounded by farmland about an hour outside
Urbamorr. The location is only 300 feet (90m)
from the edge of the ledge. The fall off the ledge
is 3,300 feet (1,000m).

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wink and smile at each other. They don’t mean to This event only happens if the characters have
confuse the characters, they just disagree about persuaded the praithians to release the children.
alliances outside of other dh’lann, yet still deeply Depending on player interest, they might be
love one another. delivered as soon as negotiations are completed,
If the characters attempt to negotiate some sort or “in a few hours,” giving the characters time to
of alliance with the dh’lann resistance, they can meet the resistance.
persuade them by winning a difficulty-5 roll. Skills If the characters are not in the Queen's Head Inn
(Intellect) that might be used include: deceiving, or The Bridge, a dh’lann slave brings a message
intimidation, and persuasion. asking them to meet Contessa Kyyndance at the
Good arguments are assets. common room on their floor of the Queen’s Head
Add 1 to the difficulty if the players wish to Inn. Otherwise she’ll just be pleased to tell them
create an alliance with the slithiks. the children are on their way. If the slave tracks
While speaking to the dh’lann, the following the characters to a rebel meeting, the rebels
clues will come to light unless things go pear- scatter, throwing dark looks at the characters.
shaped fast: Tuctin, the boy, age 7, and Tar, the girl, age 9,
· Princess Duphreen is said to be working to are both bewildered and want to get back to Gran
overthrow the Praithian Empire. She wants (Aeon Priest Mishka). Contessa Kyyndance is
the praithians to leave the world of dreams happy with her role in the negotiations and
and return to the real world. assures the characters they need not fear the
· The dh’lann are ready for a slave revolt. Praithian Empire.
· The dh’lann are divided on whether non-
hermaphrodites are just another kind of NO EXIT
people or dangerous deviants. After the contessa takes her
leave, Breesh-Vass shows up in
the guise of a slave.
“Urbamorr is still a dangerous
place. If you look outside you’ll
Leads in: Work Pit 509, page 21; Meet the see the king has ordered the
Dh’lann Resistance, page 22; The Bridge, page airship-summoning gong taken
19; away. I can hide the children on
Leads out: Work Pit 509, page 21; Meet the the outskirts of the city until you
Dh’lann Resistance, page 22; The Bridge, page are able to leave. I fear it may
19; Treachery, page 24 take more than negotiation to
get you home. If it comes to a
fight, it will be best if the children
are safely hidden elsewhere.”
Outside, the characters can see
the airship landing field guarded
by two full 10-person squads of
dh’lanns and of slithiks, each
commanded by an impressive
captain. Standing where the
gong used to be is a featureless
stone giant, 20 feet (6m) tall.
The giant holds a massive sword
of blue flame.
Breesh knows what the giant
is—a praithian knight.
If the characters have not met
either rebel faction yet, they
may wish to now. Or King Umbral might be mad
enough to come stomping out of the King's
Tower.

The Return, page 46

If the characters attempt to fly or glide off the
shelf, they are met with wave after wave of Praithian War Snake,
praithian war snakes. If that doesn’t turn them page 55
back, or they reach the floor of the lands under
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The Sun Below by other means, cut to The Return Form: A bio-mechanical bud that burrows under
(page 46). The princess leads a failed rebellion, the skin and attaches to the spine. It’s warm,
the city is burned to a shambles, and if the blue, and always wet and slippery.
players ever return they find a graveyard Effect: Forces the mind reader to succeed on an
inhabited by a very sad king. Others have looted Intellect attack to read the target’s mind, even if
the place, so there is not much left to discover. an attack is not normally required. Also, the bud
adds 2 to the Intellect defense of the target.
Normal thoughts are replaced with the buzzing of
insects unless the mind reader succeeds on their
Leads in: The Bridge, page 19; Work Pit 509, page
attack.
21; Meet the Dh’lann Resistance, page 22; King’s
A mind reader with the masters insects focus
Move, page 25
has an asset to understand the thoughts.
Leads out: King’s Move, page 25; Capture, page
Depletion: 1 in 1d20
26; Find Allies, page 29
MIND READERS
TIMING THE TRAITOR
If your players have The traitor may have once been a true rebel, but
access to mind-reading
This event can either be triggered by the player
characters resorting to violence, in which case the has come to believe that yet another slave
esoteries and start to use
traitor will show up to “help.” Or at a time of the rebellion will end in yet another bloody failure. At
them before the reveal,
GM’s choosing, the traitor could strike without least that’s what they tell themselves. And
give all of the rebel
warning. wouldn’t it be better to nip that doomed dream
leaders mind-shield buds
“to avoid detection from Use the latter to help move the adventure along, in the bud, and get paid well in the process?
the praithians.” once the characters have gotten a taste of The traitor is better trained and better equipped
Urbamorr. If everyone is having fun exploring the than the characters expect. Take the base stats
city, hold off a bit. If they seem ready for an for a slithik captain, slithik savant, or dh’lann
Mind-shield bud, page 24 captain depending on who you choose as the
action scene, spring it.
traitor, and then make the following changes:
CHOOSE THE make the level 7/8/9; level 8/9/10 for Initiative.
Add the following numenera:
TRAITOR Nano-needler (6) loaded with a level-6 poison
An NPC of your choice turns out to have been that drops the target 1 step down the damage
working for the praithians all along. Pick one the track.
characters have already met. Detonation (web) (8) wristband projector cypher.
One method for selecting the spy for the Detonation (matter disruption) (10) wristband
praithians is to let the players choose for you. If projector cypher.
you hear table chatter that they “don’t trust that Two Detonation (singularity) (10) wristband
one,” pick that NPC. (This gives the suspicious projector cyphers.
player the feeling they were right all along. If only Dh’lann traitors will wear liquid ceramosteel
the others had listened…) armor, level 8. Slithik traitors will be armed with a
Another GM strategy is to pick the NPC the slithik brain spike, level 10.
players trust the most, probably Mor-Klish or
Breesh-Vass. This twists the knife of treachery
even further. If Breesh-Vass “sent the children to
TACTICS
Liquid ceramosteel The traitor hasn’t been hired to kill the characters
safety” this has the added tension because the
armor, page 19 but has been given the mission of capturing
players will then fear that the children are
them. So you will want to hit the characters so
prisoners, probably locked up somewhere in the
hard they believe they are about to die, then
Slithik brain spike, page King’s Tower.
offer them the chance to surrender.
22 A choice that works well with what the
The surrender offer is a full table GM Intrusion,
characters have already experienced, is to choose
where each character is offered 1 xp if they go
Purl-Vass or Tasss-Klish. This will not only
along with the capture.
reinforce the negative emotions the antagonistic
That’s the plan, anyway. Should the traitor kill a
NPC has brought to the table, but will discredit
character in the capture attempt, consider using
the NPC’s anti-coalition position. This will make it
lasting or permanent damage as a death
much more likely the dh’lann, slithik, and the
replacement.
praithian princess will form a unified front.

Lasting or ARTIFACT: MIND-

permanent
damage, page
SHIELD BUD If Tuctin and Tar are with the characters, you
Level: 1d6 + 2 might want to separate them before the traitor
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strikes. Add trap door that opens under them, a This attack will almost certainly be a surprise
revolving secret door, or a new opening that the attack.
kids run through before the characters can react.
You could award the character watching over or
If none of the characters is impaired or worse, the
just closest to the children a GM Intrusion to get
follow-up attack will be the second detonation
the kids out of the way. If they refuse the
(singularity). For tier 4+, consider using the
intrusion, you might allow them to fall on the
detonation (singularity) if none of the characters
children and take the damage.
is debilitated or worse. For tier 4+ characters
Otherwise, the traitor’s area of effect attacks are
ambushed in Work Pit 509, consider setting the
likely kill the children and change the tone of the
second detonation off over the pit. The secondary
adventure. If that’s what your group wants, by all
effect will cause the characters to start
means let the consequences haunt them for
plummeting. In other locations, consider an
sessions to come.
airburst 40 feet (12m) above the players. This
allows a fall for ambient damage after the
secondary effect.
If this event happens in a meeting with the rebels, Otherwise, if some characters are debilitated
sitting around in the Queen’s Head Inn, or just and another singularity would be too much,
anywhere the characters feel safe, the traitor follow up with be detonation (massive). Even if
starts off by making an excuse, perhaps to “get some PCs are debilitated, if they are spread out in
you a map of the king’s Tower, that’s where the such a way that those who are not debilitated can
gong is…” be caught by themselves, consider using the
They drop their bag and leave the room. The detonation (massive).
first detonation (singularity) cypher is in the bag, Further follow-ons can include detonation (web)
set to go off as soon as the traitor leaves and and the nano-needler. The traitor can get off two
shuts the ceramosteel door behind them. This is a needler shots per round.
surprise attack, but since it’s a level-10 cypher, The goal is to hit the characters very hard, very
and 10 is as bad as it gets, that point is probably fast, and avoid a long, drawn-out fight that the
moot. player characters don’t feel they can win. You
Remember the detonation (singularity) cypher want to move to Capture (page 26) as soon as the
explodes for 2 effects, damage and the Might PCs are ready for it.
defense roll. If the fight started without the king and his
After the blast goes off, the traitor will smash cohort, bring them on the scene. They don’t have
open the door to attack again. to attack just yet, intimidation is the name of the
game.

If this event happens because the characters are

in combat, perhaps with the king and his cohorts,
LET IT END
Once the player characters are up against it, offer
the traitor shows up at range, long if possible,
the full table GM Intrusion.
and waves at the characters from a vantage point
“Let it end. Surrender while you still can,” says
that is hard for the characters to rush, say from a
the traitor.
balcony or atop a fallen statue.
If the players refuse the intrusion, that is their
“I’m here to help!”
right. And who knows, maybe they can fight their
The traitor will open up with the first detonation
way out of this or escape somehow. If not, the
(singularity) if they can do so without hitting the
praithians will take prisoners, but the characters
praithian forces. (They won’t care about any war
receive no xp once they have refused the
snakes, those can get fried along with the PCs.)
intrusion.
Any characters in immediate range with the
praithians will be spared. The traitor will target
over the back line of characters in an attempt to
take out those characters standing back. If Leads in: Landing, page 16; The Queen’s Head
possible, they’ll do an air burst over the back Inn, page 18; The Bridge, page 19; Work Pit 509,
line's heads, at 40 feet (12m) so the characters page 21; Meet the Dh’lann Resistance, page 22;
get to fall for ambient damage after the Children Released, page 23; Treachery, page 24
secondary effect from the singularity. So helpful. Leads out: Treachery, page 24; Capture, page 26;
If it’s impossible to use the detonation Find Allies, page 29
(singularity) as an opener, the traitor will use Eventually, the king will move against the
detonation (massive), to try to hit as many characters. He feels that the contessa has let him
characters as possible. down, and it’s time to show this rabble from the

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 The Sun Below

world above just who is King of Urbamorr. Let damage track. If this would kill them, drop them
them be mind-controlled and perhaps they will down to 1 point in each non-zero stat.
be able to secure more slaves from the surface Before they leave their capture location, allow
world. characters to notice what their captors do not.
The king is not well disposed toward Choose an ally who was with the characters. The
negotiation. With groups that avoid combat at all captors pass by this ally who seems dead. The ally
costs, you can surround the characters with silently gets up and moves out of sight. Tasss-
overwhelming numbers, reveal the traitor, and Klish, Mor-Klish, Xot-Klish, Purl-Vass, and Breesh-
cut to the table-wide GM intrusion to allow the Vass are all good candidates.
characters to be captured. If the children were at the scene of the capture
If the players like and seek out combat, this and are still alive, and if it makes sense, let
event should provide plenty of it. You can another character notice them peek out of hiding
postpone the traitor’s attack to let the players and then duck down.
enjoy a good fight. Once it’s time to wrap up, let
the traitor loose.

Slithik Soldier, page 58 Leads in: King’s Move, page 25; Capture, page 26
WHEN PLAYER Leads out: Prison Break, page 27
Slithik captain, page 58 CHARACTERS GO The characters are shoved into a dark, dingy, and
stained synthsteel cage. A reek of filth and a
BAD handful of crumpled bodies greet the characters.
If the characters behave belligerently and get into One of the bodies, a slithik, moves.
King Umbral: level 7/8/9, a fight early on, allow some slave forces to soften “Greetings, I am Korlath-Klish. I’m afraid our
level 6/7/8 for Speed the players up before the king and his entourage other companions are not much for conversation,
defense ; 4/6/8 points of show up. Some players just like to fight, so let or anything else, these days.” The others are
Armor: ½ armor for blunt them beat up on their foes for a few rounds, and dead.
weapons; stabbing then send in the A-team. Korlath is a slithik soldier and rebel. He’s
weapons -1 damage; 2 The closer the characters are to the royal towers immune to all mind control, which is why he’s
attacks a round: 1) eye of
when they pick a fight, the faster the reaction: a been a guest of the king for such a long time. He’s
chill mind: (long) 7/8/9
few rounds in the queen’s Head Inn or in or next at half health, and a bit odd—understandable
Intellect damage and
to any of the royal towers, a few minutes in the given his surroundings.
move 1 level down on the
damage track; 2) psychic city, up to an hour in the hinterland. Despite his morbid humor, Korlath will do what
whirlpool: AoE (short) 3 When the guards arrive, they first demand the he can to help the newcomers. He has been using
Intellect damage/royal characters throw down their arms and surrender. his venom to weaken a corner of the floor. It’s
praithian in range, for Round 1: 3 squads of slithik soldiers with one quite close to breaking now.
every 5 praithians:+1 slithik captain. If the PCs haven't met the slithik rebels yet,
attack level; counts as 3 Round 2: The king, 2/3/4 praithian knights, a Korlath, once freed, can lead them to Work Pit
normal praithians for nest of 6/8/10 praithian war snakes 509 or to several other places where he can
whirlpool; the king can Round 3: The traitor contact the slithik rebels.
teleport to his throne If the fight is dragging, go ahead and throw the Korlath also knows how to hack control prisms,
room at will; special rest of the praithian forces in on the next round. and his advice counts as an asset. Why is this
minor and major effects; If the characters flee before the traitor is important? Well, every player character’s neck is
page 52 revealed, the traitor can join the party and lead itching, in a five-pointed star pattern. Nanites are
them directly into an ambush by the king and his growing control crystals, a process that will take
Praithian Knight: level cohort. about two weeks.
6/7/8; 6/8/10 points of GM Advice: This is a perfect place to include
Armor, armor is halved signs of an NPC from your previous adventures. A
for blunt weapons, -1
mentor, ally, contact, or rival may have spent
damage from stabbing Leads in: Treachery, page 24; King’s Move, page
hard time in this cell. The characters may find
weapons; 8/10/12 25
writing on the wall, and Korlath may remember
damage; on hit, target Leads out: Prison, page 26
makes 2ⁿ� Speed defense her/him.
Once the players accept the table-wide GM
roll or hit for 4/5/6 Regardless, one of the characters notices
Intrusion, they are disarmed and put in restraints
ambient damage and something carved in the wall:
before being taken underground to the
loss of 1 point of armor; containment cells.
minor and major effects; As the characters’ items are confiscated, they
page 53 can make a level 7/8/9 Speed roll to hide one
small article on their body. Should they fail, they
Praithian war snake, get a beating that drops them one step down the
page 55
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You may want to play music to set the mood. GM Intrusion: A

Iadace. I know now why the others warn against Soundtracks from spy movies, thrillers, or other character in prison
Urbamorr, the City of Dreams. And since you are high-action movies work well. In one playtest starts trembling and
here, I imagine you do as well. Know this, it may without music, the players started beat-boxing an others notice pallid
be of help: The control-crystal nanites fail. One appropriate “soundtrack” as they ran away from yellow slime oozing
skilled in the numenera can adjust them to free the praithians. out of their ears. They
a creature from mind control. Throttle the red move one step down
stream and twist the inner star to the left one the damage track. If
click. THE PLAN that will kill them, they
I believe my arguments have planted a seed in Korlath has weakened the floor to the point that drop to 1 point in each
Princess Duphreen’s mind. Perhaps she can save the characters could pry up the plating and jump non-zero stat instead.
me. Perhaps she can save herself. Time will tell. down into the darkness. That’s his plan. If the
-- Charish Kos, Aeon Priest players may come up with other plans, let them.
No matter the plan, have one player make a
level 3/4/5 escape check to get away without
Charish’s instructions provide another asset in immediate notice. Good ideas are assets. Failure
hacking control crystals. puts the players under immediate pressure, as
guards give chase from behind, and the party is
ILL TREATMENT blocked by a patrol ahead (6/8/10 dh’lann
The guests of the king are in for some ill soldiers ahead, and the same number behind).
treatment. A psychic alarm sounds every half Once out, Korlath knows the general direction to
Dh’lann Soldier: level
hour to prevent sleep and disrupt hourly and run, and will want to contact the slithik rebels.
2/3/4; 1/2/2 points of
daily recovery rolls.
armor; 2-hit mook
The prisoners are fed moldy gray slop and THE MONTAGE (4/5/6); greatsword for
muddy water. Every day, each character must For the escape, the goal is not to go into details 6/8/10 or mindslice
succeed in a level 4/5/6 Might defense roll or be with maps and die rolling, but to give a sense of (onslaught) as level 4/5/6
dazed until the next 10-hour rest in better time passing as the characters make their for 4/5/6 Intellect
conditions. Once characters fail, they do not need getaway. damage; page 49
to roll again. The characters are fleeing in an underground
Most groups will want to exit the prison as soon labyrinth of tunnels full of ancient machinery. In Dh’lann Squad: 5-10
as possible. A few groups might want to roleplay this scene, the players will help decide what soldiers; attacks at level
a bit of the prison life first. Either cut to the obstacles they face, and what they must do to 4/5/6 for greatsword,
escape, or let them interact with guards and overcome them.
6/7/8 for mindslice;
Korlath, whatever works for them. double damage.
If the characters search for weapons at any
Note: not only do the PCs not have their point, they find pipes and bits of metal they can
equipment, they have no idea where their use as clubs.
captors have stored it. Pick a player to start with, then go around the
table. Each player will describe an exciting
problem the group encounters. The next player
Leads in: Prison, page 26 will describe how their character solves the
Leads out: Prison, page 26; Return to the River of problem in a cinematic fashion. The GM narrates
Stars, page 28; Find Allies, page 29 the solution back to the group, with the character

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 The Sun Below

as the hero, and has the hero find a cypher in the 1 – 3: Dh’lann patrol: 6/8/10 dh’lann soldiers
Dh’lann soldier, page 49 process. The player then comes up with a new and 1 dh’lann captain.
problem and the next player in turn comes up 4 – 5: Slithik patrol: 6/8/10 slithik soldiers and 1
Dh’lann captain, page 49 with the solution. Keep going until every player slithik captain.
has created and solved a problem. 6+: Knight patrol: 1 praithian knight and 6/8/10
Slithik soldier, page 58 For example, the first player says, “We run praithian war snakes.
around a corner and find a bottomless chasm After the characters have eluded or fought off
Slithik captain, page 58 blocking our way.” the patrol, if they interacted with Lebby aboard
The next player describes how their character the airship An Domorr and left on good terms
Praithian knight, page 53
got the group past the difficulty. (No die rolls with her, cut to Return to the River of Stars
needed.) (below).
Praithian war snake,
For example, the player could say, “We find a If not, go to Find Allies (page 29) or the Princess
page 55
storeroom full of long transparent tubes, wide Duphreen Encounter (page 30). In either case,
enough to crawl through. We lay one over the Korlath will try and make contact with the slithik
chasm and go on.” rebels.
River of Stars, page 15 You then narrate that back to the group, making
the character the hero and add a cypher.

Amazing. What looked like just part of the wall

turned out to be the door to a storeroom, and
you found it. You single-handedly lift a long
clear tube up and place it across the chasm.
You even find some machinery on both sides to Leads in: Prison Break,
brace it with, so it won’t roll. All the other page 27
characters get across. Leads out: Find Allies, page 29; Princess
You go last. As you crawl across the chasm in Duphreen Encounter, page 30
the clear tube, and notice something glittering Ducking from the patrol, the characters enter a
on a shelf three feet below the far ledge. It’s a dark passage with wavering light ahead. The
cypher. passage twists and turns and opens up into a
place the characters may have been before: the
Then give them a cypher. Consider cyphers that River of Stars.
might help the characters escape from a patrol, In the dark chamber, they see a river that runs in
such as a force screen projector. a figure eight, perhaps 300 feet (100m) across.
Now the player who described the solution and It’s hard to tell, since the size of space seems to
Force screen
found the cypher describes a new obstacle to the be changing in the room. The dark waters always
projector,
page 286 party’s escape. You keep going around the table. flow downhill and are sprinkled with pinwheels of
Once every player has had a chance to make up a light that resemble galaxies.
challenge to overcome and a solution, the Lebby, a young girl with red hair in braids, sits on
montage is over. a swing, kicking her legs in and out.
"Remember me? I’m Lebby. I'm 11."
She speaks to the character with whom she had
THE PATROL the most previous interaction, rocking back and
Have one character roll to avoid being spotted by forth and speaking in a singsong voice.
a patrol. This is a level 4/5/6 difficulty test. The As before, her words are vague and hint at other
players can choose which character will attempt realities, other places. She seems concerned with
the roll. the characters’ well-being, but won’t give
· If the player succeeds on the sneaking roll, specifics on anything.
they avoid the encounter and move on. The “You're hurt. The river can heal you, but don't
characters always have the option of forget to come out. Your part is not yet done."
entering combat if they wish to. If anyone hesitates, she says, "Go ahead, it's
· If they roll a natural 1, the characters refreshing."
stumble right into a patrol. They may want to
consider buying a reroll.
· On a natural 19 or 20, not only do the
REFUSAL OF THE
characters sneak past, they find another SWIM
cypher. Lebby will offer one more time, "Your existence
What kind of patrol they run into is determined will improve if you go in."
by how badly they missed their roll:

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Any PCs who continue to refuse blink and

suddenly they are alone in an empty ceramosteel
chamber littered with debris. They do not get Leads in: Treachery, page 24; King's Move, page
their missing items returned. 25; Prison Break, page 27
One of them feels a folded paper in their left Leads out: Princess Duphreen Encounter, page
hand which they unfold. It is a message on 30; Revolution, page 31
transparent paper with red lettering in the Truth:
“The contessa can get your personal items back.
So can the princess. Ask nicely.
“L”
Later, if they meet the princess she can get the
contessa to do it. If they meet the contessa first,
she can get the items, but not while in the
presence of the king.

TAKING THE WATERS

The cool waters are incredible. The seventeen If Tasss-Klish was not the traitor, Korlath-Klish
spatial and three temporal dimensions are just will tell the characters:
the beginning. You see everything, everywhere “Tasss-Klish will know what to do with you. Be
and it all makes sense. Except when it doesn't. respectful, she only trusts us slithiks. I'll try to get
You can take recoveries here. Time is her to help you. You have my thanks.”
meaningless. Korlath knows Tasss will see the PCs as food, not
But do keep track of the number of recovery as allies, but he will do his best to sell an alliance.
rolls. Each time you make a recovery roll, you Korlath sees Tasss as the ultimate leader of the
feel a little further from the surface, a little rebellion, and would rather take a chance on
more lost. swaying her than deal with a weaker leader.
If Tasss-Klish was the traitor, Korlath will say:
“Pierce-Klish was right all along. We should go to
To leave the waters, a character must succeed
him, he has shown great wisdom.”
on an Intellect or Speed task. The difficulty is 1 for
Korlath and Mor will speak in the character’s
every recovery roll made. A 19 or 20 allows the
favor, each giving an asset to any negotiation roll.
character to give an asset or a reroll to another
character to leave the waters. GM Intrusion: One of
If the roll is failed, other characters can try to TASSS-KLISH the characters talking
fish them out using the same difficulty. Should a If Pierce was the traitor, Tasss will lump the to Tasss-Klish slips
character fail to be rescued, a few minutes after characters in with Pierce: “Pierce tried to kill me, and careens into a
the others get out, the lost character appears and you were his friends. What do you think I shelf of crystal
whole, naked, and unconscious. They do not get should do to you?” decanters, crashing
their equipment back, but may later find it in the Otherwise she will be wary: “We slithik have them onto the floor.
King’s Tower at the bottom of the Pool of suffered from other races. Why should I listen to They contained blood,
Dreams. you?” blood that had been
Tasss is very willing to pass the characters off to set aside for the rebel
Princess Duphreen. But how willing is she to join leader. Now it’s a
OUT OF THE WATERS with the princess, the dh’lann, and the sticky mess on the
If any of the characters refused the waters, they floor, mixed in with
characters?
see the other characters appear wet and broken crystal shards.
Getting Tasss to agree to consider a popular
surrounded by a brief glow. They cannot assist in Tasss is not amused.
front against the praithians starts out as a
dragging people out because they can’t see them
difficulty 4/5/6, but good arguments are assets.
while they are still in the water.
Intimidation won’t work with Tasss, and that is
The old ceramosteel chamber is littered with
clear as soon as a character starts down that
debris. It is not big enough to have held the River
path. If the characters have already earned her
of Stars. There is no sign of Lebby or the river.
trust, lower the difficulty by 1 and do not count
All PCs who went into the water have their
this against the asset limit.
equipment back, and 1 xp for discovering the
Getting Tasss to agree to start the revolution
wonders of the River of Stars. They don’t
without the princess and the dh’lann, with or
remember details, only that it was life changing.
without the characters’ help is difficulty 0. She’s
A simple search of the chamber, difficulty 2,
ready to pull the trigger.
reveals 1d3 Cyphers.

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 The Sun Below

here. The dh’lann traditionalists are here, but

PIERCE-KLISH they haven’t committed yet.
If Tasss is the traitor, his faction has been Pierce-Klish, Breesh-Vass, Tasss-Klish and Purl-
disgraced and the slithik are (mostly) ready to Vass are here if their factions are here. Of course
follow Pierce into a coalition with the princess if one is the traitor, a replacement is here in their
and dh’lann. stead.
Pierce is in many ways the mirror opposite of One of the NPCs, possibly Tasss-Klish, announces
Tasss. Pierce is ready to go to the princess and the characters as they enter. They turn their
join in a popular front against the king. To attention to the tall, pale figure.
convince him to act otherwise is hard, difficulty “I am Princess Duphreen. I have heard much of
4/5/6. your exploits. It gladdens me that you are with us
With Pierce on board for a coalition-based at this moment. Should we prevail, I will not
uprising, Tasss (or her replacement) will join in, at forget my friends.
least until the king is deposed. “The world of dreams is empty. The dreams
repeat and those who exist inside them achieve
nothing.
“Help me end this mad empire and bring my
people back to the world of the living. This slavery
of the slithiks and dh’lanns is an abomination and
must end, here and now. I can break the power of
Leads in: Return to the River of Stars, page 28; the control crystals.
Find Allies, page 29 “You must protect me while I force my father to
Leads out: Last Chance for the King, page 31; see to reason. Queen Grieva, my mother refuses
Revolution, page 31 to oppose him, so it is up to me.”
The characters get to use diplomacy here, in She plans on rewarding the characters with
GM Intrusion: The
order to convince the dh’lann hardliners to join artifacts, the children’s freedom, and the way
princess’s charismatic
aura charms a player the coalition and to sway the rebels to either home.
character. They must start the revolution or attempt to talk to the king “Are you all in?” asks the princess.
make an Intellect 7/8/9 one last time. If the Tasss-Klish “humans-as-food” faction
roll to go against any of Deep under the Crystal Tower, the characters bothered to come, they’re in. All eyes turn to
her wishes. A natural 20 enter a chamber guarded by two named praithian Purl-Vass (or her replacement).
(or a week of separation) war snakes, Koy and Lomb. The snakes let the She turns to the characters. “I know why you are
ends the effect. characters pass. Inside is a large chamber with a here, and that you can’t leave unless you take
big glowing crystalline table in the center. down the king. But why should I help? The slithik
Floating over the table is a three-dimensional will eat us without their mind-control crystals.”
map of Urbamorr, with symbols for rebels and It takes a successful Intellect (persuasion) roll of
the king’s forces. difficulty 3/4/5 to bring her and her faction on
Standing behind the table is an 8-foot (2.5m) tall board.
woman with bone-white skin and some sort of At this point, the leaders resume their
numenera armor over a deep violet dress. She is argument. the princess demands to see the king,
wraith-thin and stands on feet that end in three and give him one last chance to listen to her. The
large, splayed toes. other rebel leaders want to use the princess’s
If the characters have seen a praithian mummy, power to jam control crystals, start the
this is what one looks like, only less dead. revolution, and fight their way to the king.
Princess Duphreen is alive, brought back to this “What do you advise?” asks the princess.
world by the ancient machines of loving grace in A successful persuasion (Intellect) roll, difficulty
the Crystal Tower. 4/5/6, will allow the characters to sway the
Take stock of the characters’ interactions with debate to their side, whether it is for more talk
the rebel factions up to this point. It’s possible (Last Chance for the King) or to start the
they have alienated a faction so badly they don’t revolution (Revolution, page 31). A failure will
even come to this meeting. Modify the attendees
as appropriate.
Standing around the table are the leaders of the LOST ITEMS
rebel factions, in heated discussion, arguing over If any characters still have not yet gotten their
plans to deal with King Umbral. The pro-coalition equipment back, the princess can arrange for
factions of both the slithiks and the dh’lanns Contessa Kyyndance to secret the items out in
should be here, unless the characters have really a gesture of good faith.
insulted them somehow. If they did well in Optional: If you want to create a daring raid
Finding Allies, the slithik traditionalists will be to rescue the items, by all means.

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result in the opposite course of action being Princess Duphreen does her best. “Father, you Throne room, page 33
agreed upon. must realize the time for dreaming is over. Our
lands are but a fraction of what they once were.
Soon they will be gone, and us with them. Return
to the living, as I have done.”
The contessa, obviously distressed, follows the
Leads in: Princess Duphreen Encounter, page 30 king’s line. “All loyal praithians would rather die
Leads out: Throne Room, page 33 than disgrace themselves by leaving the sacred
King Umbral really doesn’t want to listen to his dream. Repent and beg for mercy.” She pauses.
daughter’s ravings about returning to the land of “It’s not as bad as it sounds.”
the living. Any time he wants to listen to mad The characters can chime in. The better they do,
ravings he can just listen to himself. the more upset the contessa gets. They may well
Unless the players pull a really big diplomatic turn her to their side.
miracle out of the hat, this approach is doomed. In any case, the king attacks by surprise and we
However, if this attempt is made, it counts as an move to the action detailed in The Throne Room.
asset if the characters attempt to use diplomacy But if the characters tried diplomacy here, it will
on the queen later in this adventure. help later at the top of the Queen’s Tower.
Princess Duphreen wants the characters with
her both as bodyguards and third-party
diplomats. Leads in: Princess Duphreen Encounter, page 30;
Find Allies, page 29
ON HER OWN Leads out: Throne Room, page 33
If the princess goes alone, both she and the
contessa will die. Without the princess HOW BIG A
jamming the mind-control crystals, the
revolution will stall. In this case, if the REVOLUTION?
traditionalists haven’t joined the coalition, the A lot depends on how well the characters have
revolution will start to crumble. built a revolutionary coalition in the proceeding
events. There are five factions that might be here:
the traditionally anti-slithik dh’lann, the dh’lann
The princess and the characters march up to the who have always wanted slithik allies, the
gates of the King’s Tower, which open. Flanked by traditionally dh’lann-as-food slithik, the slithik
two praithian knights, they climb the ramp to the who always wanted to cooperate with the
throne room, there to debate with the king. dh’lann, and the princess.
There, before the king, the princess makes her
case. the king is behind a force field as described
in the Throne Room. Also present are 1/2/3
praithian knights, 2 nests of war snakes, and If all five factions are present, the characters have
Contessa Kyyndance. The traitor hides behind the an asset on all combat related rolls in this event.
throne, listening as the king speaks. With every faction present, the mood is
“I will not bother to dispute with you. Contessa triumphant, almost celebratory. The rebels sweep
Kyyndance will argue my case. I will pass the streets to the cheers of their children and
judgment when I decide to end this farce.” elders. Groups of slaves throw themselves at
praithians, pulling them down with ropes, and
using rubble and metal bars to crack them open.
GM Intrusion: Just before the group reaches Slithik and dh’lann soldiers shoot praithian war
the throne room, the corridor’s gravity field snakes down from the skies and assault praithians
reverses, the ceiling vanishes and they fall (up) and praithian knights with 50–1 odds or better.
into a trap. The ceiling above, now the floor, is Freed slaves cry in joy and hug the characters.
40 feet (12m) away, causing 4 points of The characters are more than just liberators,
ambient damage from the fall. Standing on the they are heroes.
ceiling, which is really a floor, is a praithian
knight who attacks at one level higher the first
round while the characters find their footing.
If the knight is slain, the gravity field reverses,
causing another 40-foot (12m) drop. The doors With four factions, the rebels are still optimistic,
to the throne room open and the king laughs. but it’s a real fight. Non-combatants cheer from
What a silly daughter! cover, and the revolutionaries make a

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determined push to the King’s Tower. Rebel

casualties are higher, but when one falls, another GM Intrusion: A dh’lann captain has gone
Rogue Dh’lann Captain: rogue and snipes at slithik rebels and any
steps into their shoes. Or slime.
level 4/5/6, level 5/6/7 target he deems slithik allies, such as the PCs.
for mindslice; 4 points of This captain is equipped with liquid
Armor; 15/18/21 health; ceramosteel armor and a controlled blinking
8/9/10 damage from nodule. He uses mindslice to kill a nearby ally
greatsword, 5/6/7 of the characters. He is striking at range from
Intellect damage from If only two or three factions are present, the
above with cover, atop a ruined building,
mindslice; 2 attacks a characters suffer an impairment on all combat-
giving him a +1 difficulty defense bonus.
round with greatsword, related rolls during this event.
Allow the characters a difficulty 5/6/7
or 1 with mindslice; With two or three factions, the slaves take the
page 49 Intellect roll to see where the attack on their
outskirts of the city, but stall when approaching
ally came from. Otherwise a character is
the royal towers. The characters will have to
Liquid ceramosteel armor come up with a plan that lets them cross or avoid attacked by surprise (1 level) on the next
page 19 round.
dozens of city blocks under praithian control in
order to get to the king.
mind-controlled slithik and dh’lann
soldiers battle their own people.
Controlled The following encounters can come
blinking nodule, in any order. Skip or repeat
page 283 encounters as you wish.
If only one faction is here, the
characters suffer two impairments in
combat. A praithian zeroes in on the
With one faction, after initial gains, characters. 2/3/4 other praithians are
the rebels are thrown back and go on close enough to boost the psychic
the defensive. They make a brave whirlpool attack.
Praithian Knight: level stand, but unless the characters When the characters break the stone
6/7/8; 6/8/10 points of somehow take out the king, the rebels head, rebels rush up and pull the
Armor, armor is halved will all die before the day is over. mummy apart. One goes running with
for blunt weapons, -1 the mummy’s head but is felled by eye of doom
damage from stabbing WILD IN THE from another praithian.
weapons; 8/10/12
damage; on hit, target STREETS
makes 2ⁿ� Speed defense Where they are safe from praithian retaliation, A praithian knight comes stomping toward the
roll or hit for 4/5/6 mobs of dh’lanns and slithiks burn buildings, characters.
ambient damage and loss topple statues, and, sometimes fight each other.
of 1 point of armor; A scene of total chaos erupts as the slaves start GM Intrusion: The knight spins around,
minor and major effects: looting. attacking all enemies in immediate range. Any
page 53 If the characters join in the looting, each looter hit causes double damage, but skips the
can collect 3d6 shins and 1d6 cyphers for every secondary Speed defense attack.
Ordinary Praithian: level 10 minutes of looting. Should the characters do
4/5/6; Speed Defense nothing but loot, eventually they will be caught in
3/4/5; 4/6/8 points of a praithian counter-attack and find themselves in
Armor: ½ armor for blunt danger of being overrun. Double the numbers of War snakes drop out of the sky, a whole nest of
weapons; stabbing 6/8/10 snakes mobbing one character.
all praithians encountered during the counter-
weapons -1 damage; 2 “Get them off me!”
attack.
attacks a round: 1) eye of
doom: (long) 4/5/6
damage which ignores CONFRONTING THE GM Intrusion: A nest frenzies on one
1/2/3 points of physical character, hitting as level: 7/8/9, doing
armor 2) psychic
ENEMIES OF quadruple damage: 12/16/20
whirlpool: AoE (short) 1 REVOLUTION
Intellect When the characters face opponents, the battle
damage/praithian in still rages on to the left and the right. Praithian
range, for every 5 TIME TO END IT
stone heads float around, shooting their eyes of
praithians:+1 attack
doom. Praithian knights lay into rebel formations Assuming she’s part of the revolution, Princess
level; special minor and
with their swords of blue fire. Praithian war Duphreen rides up on a large anti-grav disk pulled
major effects; page 51
snakes drop out of the sky and strike behind the by nine war snakes.
lines. If the princess is not there, formations of

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"Hop on. Time to see the king and end this Praithian War Snake:
thing!" level 3/4/5; 2-hit mook
She flies the characters to the rooftop entrance (6/7/8); bite has Intellect
to throne room. poison that dazes for one
Depending on the number of factions in the round, during which time
fight, the characters may be assaulted in mid-air the difficulty of all tasks
by praithian war snake nests. the target performs is
modified by one step to
With all five factions, there will be no attack, the
its detriment; page 55
praithians are thrown back too fast to mount a
defense. For every faction less than five, throw
Nest of Praithian War
one snake nest at the flying characters. Each nest Snakes: composed of 6-
will strike at a different character. 10 snakes, attacks as
level 5/6/7 for double
damage; poison still only
WITHOUT THE PRINCESS lasts one round, but the
Most groups will enter the Throne Room target has to roll twice to
encounter with the princess as an ally. In fact, avoid it’s effects.
she’ll fly them to the top of the tower to avoid
a slog up the ramps, enabling the party to cut
right to the chase. But “most groups” doesn’t
mean all groups. Queen’s Tower, page 39
If you are faced with characters climbing the
tower, throw in some guards and copy some
of the defenders of the Queen’s Tower over to
the King’s Tower. Squads of mind-controlled
soldiers are viable without the princess. Mechanically, the character receiving the help
If play bogs down, consider a rebel infiltrator has the difficulty of all actions reduced by one
who takes the characters up a lightly guarded step and, if in combat, +1 damage.
servant’s passage that is too small for
praithians and praithian knights.

Leads in: Revolution, page 31; Last Chance for the

King, page 31
Leads out: Breather, page 37

THE POWER OF THE

PRINCESS
Besides disabling all mind-control crystals in a 0.6
mile (1km) radius, the princess kicks ass in
combat. While that’s great, and you will want to
describe her combat moves, Numenera is a game
about players, not NPCs.
Instead of having someone roll for the princess,
have her help a character every turn. Here’s how
it works:
Princess Duphreen goes before the characters in
initiative order. Each turn she helps a character. If
any character is engaged with her father, that’s
the one she helps. If more player characters are
engaged with the king, she helps the one most
likely to take out her father or she just flips a shin.
Otherwise whoever seems to be in the most
trouble finds the princess fighting alongside. She
can move and help in the same turn.

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She knows her father so well, her help with

GM Intrusion: A anyone attacking or defending against King
THRONE ROOM
character in combat is Umbral is doubled. The difficulty of all actions is DESCRIPTION
knocked headfirst into reduced by two steps and +2 damage. If the characters came to battle, but now
the pool of dreams. The The princess’s power is not an asset, and doesn’t attempt to negotiate with the king, see Last
next round they must count toward the limit of two assets per action. Chance for the King, page 31
swim to the top in order
to breathe, as well as
make their roll against
The throne room before you is shaped like a in front of the knights, one nest in either side
becoming dazed.
four-pointed star some 130 feet (40m) from alcove.
point to point. The ceramic ceiling is 40 feet Across the room, past the pool, the alcove is
(12m) tall, the synthcrete walls are covered in sealed off with some kind of force-wall made of
faded tapestries covered in dream-like pictures pulsing red light. In some places the wall is
of praithians floating about. The floor is covered almost totally transparent, in others almost solid
in ceramosteel tiles. red, and these areas constantly shift and swim
In the center of the room, you see a 40-foot around the wall.
(12m) diameter black crystalline pool filled with Behind the red wall of light is a circular throne,
blue water and moving white lights. and above it floats King Umbral. He’s got quite
Floating over the pool is Contessa Kyyndance, the stone head.
whose giant head nods in recognition as you The throne is backlit by an intense red light.
Dazed: The difficulty of enter. There is another light source back there, but you
all tasks increases by one There are 1/2/3 praithian knights in the room, can’t see what it is.
step. scattered among the left and right alcoves. The door behind you vanishes as soon as you
There are two nests of praithian war snakes of enter.
6/8/10 snakes each, hovering like hummingbirds

POOL OF DREAMS
The 40-foot (12m) diameter pool of dreams is 10
feet (3m) deep and rises 3 feet (.9m) from the
floor. If characters enter the waters, they must
succeed on an Intellect roll or be dazed for one
round.
If a character’s items were confiscated by the
praithians and not yet returned, they are sitting
at the bottom of the pool. The waters have not
damaged them.
Any character hit in combat while in the water
has to make another roll to avoid being dazed.
Each failure adds another round to the duration.
The depth counts as deep water, which quarters
movement: a short move is about 12 feet (3.7 m),
and a long move is about 25 feet (7.6 m).
Characters trained in swimming only halve their
movement while in deep water.

FORCE FIELD
The force field stops any kind of energy or mental
attack from succeeding, but lets the king and the
traitor hiding behind the throne attack out.
Physical attacks by the PCs fail unless the
characters specifically target the solid red blobs
that dance about the force field. If they do, they
must first succeed on a difficulty 6 Intellect or
Speed roll or the attack is wasted. If they succeed,
then they can then roll for their standard attack.

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Targeting the opaque spots is counterintuitive, King Umbral: level 7/8/9;

so characters will probably try the most Speed defense 6/7/8;
transparent spots first, which will fail. GM Intrusion: The king mind controls a 4/6/8 points of Armor: ½
It is a difficulty 6 task to jump through the character. This character must make an armor for blunt weapons;
opaque red spots. If a character succeeds in doing immediate attack on other character of the stabbing weapons -1
so, the princess will follow. GM’s choice using the combat between PCs damage; 2 attacks a
Characters may have teleportation cyphers or rules. Tie rolls go to the uncontrolled round: 1) eye of chill
character. mind: (long) 7/8/9
other skills or numenera to use to bypass the
Every turn, the character can attempt to Intellect damage and
force field. The princess does not teleport, but
break free by succeeding on an Intellect move 1 level down on the
will follow one round later via a well-placed jump.
defense roll (7/8/9) to break free . damage track & 2)
Only one character can be controlled at a psychic whirlpool: AoE
COMBAT IN THE time. The royal can relinquish control at will. (short) 3 Intellect
damage/royal praithian
THRONE ROOM in range, for every 5
This set-piece battle is designed to take the a GM Intrusion on a character on the praithians:+1 attack
characters to their limits. first round. After that he uses eye of level; counts as 3 normal
● Opening Round: chill mind every round. praithians for whirlpool;
● The king springs his trap and Princess ● Round 2: special minor and major
Duphreen vanishes into the ceiling. ● A nest of war snakes employs its GM effects; page 52
● Praithian war snakes fly past the Intrusion on a character in the back line.
characters’ front line and swarm the ● King, knights, and snakes attack.
back line.
● Praithian knight(s) attack, attempting to GM Intrusion: A nest of war snakes frenzies on Combat Between
keep the characters from engaging the PCs, page 98
one character, attacking as level: 7/8/9
king. (including poison), doing quadruple damage:
● Every round the king uses psychic 12/16/20
whirlpool. He also uses mind control as

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The Traitor, page 24 ● All Rounds:

● The traitor is hiding behind the throne
and is ready to ambush the first person
to get there. The traitor, who is guarding the crystal, will
● If the characters have the upper hand, teleport out once they decide fighting for the
GM Note: It’s important mad king isn’t worth the risk. The traitor will
that the king threaten
the king, the knights, the war snakes,
and the traitor will all use their GM decide when, based on the flow of the combat. If
that, “Queen Grieva will the characters are in danger of dying, the traitor
hear of this.” This Intrusion powers, one per round. Target
the healthiest characters. will teleport early. If the characters are running
foreshadows the battle
● The players need to be burning cyphers roughshod on the king, the traitor will strike early
to come at the Queen’s
and spending effort like there is no and often.
Tower; page 39
tomorrow.
The praithian war snakes are 2-hit mooks, but if
COMBAT THROTTLES the characters need a break they can become 1-
This set-piece battle should feel epic. All players hit mooks.
should fear that their characters are going to die,
Praithian War Snake:
and have to throw everything they’ve got into the The king’s tactics are another throttle. He can
level 3/4/5; 2-hit mook
fight in order to survive. You shouldn’t pull any target NPCs, or just stand back and rant if the
(6/7/8); bite has Intellect
poison that dazes for one
punches, at least until the first character is characters need a break. If they need to be
round, during which time debilitated. pushed, he can target the most dangerous or the
the difficulty of all tasks You have a number of throttles to keep the most vulnerable character.
the target performs is combat exciting and just barely survivable. If the Every time one of the king’s knights or the traitor
modified by one step to players are winning but the combat is dragging, falls, he calls out: “Queen Grieva will hear of this!”
its detriment; page 55 use all the throttles to end the conflict. Whenever any of his precious war snakes are
struck down, he rants and perhaps uses a GM
Nest of Praithian War Intrusion.
The Contessa wants to protect the princess. She
Snakes: composed of 6-
might try to block the king’s eye of chill mind with
10 snakes, attacks as
level 5/6/7 for double her body. If the characters look like they need THE PRINCESS TRAP
damage; poison still only help, she’ll do just that. If she helps, her stone On the first round of combat, the king activates a
lasts one round, but the head will start to crack. Unless a character does trap for his daughter. His goal is to get her out of
target has to roll twice to something specific to save her, such as taking the
avoid it’s effects. damage for her, the king will kill her in a few
rounds for the temerity of getting in his way. You
need not track her health, it just happens.

The princess starts in the reverse gravity trap for

a few rounds, returning when the players are
sweating. Then she jumps to the side of a
character taking on her father. If no one is
GM Intrusion: A knight
engaged with the king, she finds a character to
spins around, attacking
help.
all enemies in immediate
The princess can also soak up damage if the
range. Any hit causes
double damage, but skips players are going down. No die rolls needed, just
the secondary Speed describe her getting wounded left and right and
defense attack. skip an attack or three on the characters.
Bloodied but unbowed, she fights on.

The glowing red crystal behind the throne is

another throttle. Once it’s shattered, the force
field goes down. If someone gets to it while the
characters are dominating, it takes 3 strikes to
break it. If the characters are on the ropes, the
first blow shatters it.

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the way so that he can kill the characters without

having to kill her as well. Or that might be his
goal, it’s hard to tell. Opening with this trap Leads in: Throne Room, page 33
should be great fun if the characters walk into Leads out: Nightmare Storm, page 38
the room with total confidence that they are with Change the NPCs in this event if they are dead,
the kick-ass princess, and then, poof, she’s gone. traitors, or your players just like interacting with
In any case, wherever Princess Duphreen is different NPCs.
standing becomes a reverse gravity field, and the
ceiling vanishes. Above is a swarm of praithian
You find yourself carried on shoulders back to the Queen’s Head Inn,
war snakes to keep her busy.
being treated as heroes of the revolution. Dh’lanns and slithiks cheer as
Eventually she breaks free and jumps down,
you go by.
bitten and scratched. Once again, she’s helping.
In the most palatial suite, Tasss-Klish, the slithik who once opposed you,
Allow her to stay out of the fight for at least two
and Breesh, the dh’lann who championed you, present you with the
rounds, maybe more if the characters are doing
hammer of the white sun. Here you able to eat, drink, and have time to
well.
heal.
On a low table lies the dead king’s eye, a massive red crystal that graced
THE GLOWING RED the king’s third eye. Flickers of light dance around inside.
CRYSTAL
The glowing red crystal behind the throne is
powering both the force field and the king. As GM Intrusion: Breesh is deeply in love with one of the player characters.
long as the crystal is functioning, the king gains a Breesh is just starting to turn into a gender that the character typically is
level on all his attacks and defenses to 8/9/10 attracted to.
and the force field stays up. Breesh kneels and asks, “Is it true, you were the one to defeat the king?
When the crystal is shattered, the king loses two My people will leave this place and descend to the surface once the
levels on all his attacks and defenses, down to airships return. Join me. Stay with me. I shall be honored to be your
5/6/7. bride and husband.”
The crystal is a 2-hit mook (20), but you can let It’s up to the player to decide whether or not to go off and live with
it shatter earlier or later depending on the flow Breesh. Leaving the party would take the player out of the campaign
of combat. unless the entire party joined the couple.
Breesh could be convinced to travel to the world above. If the offer is
rejected with grace, Breesh remains. If not, Breesh departs in tears.
THE RETURN OF THE
TRAITOR
The traitor hides behind the throne, next to the ARTIFACT: HAMMER
glowing red crystal. Unless the characters have
discovered the traitor’s presence, they strike the OF THE WHITE SUN
first person to come past the throne with 2 levels Level: 1d3 + 7 (8/9/10)
of surprise. The traitor is not expecting anyone to Form: Massive two-handed hammer or mace.
teleport back there, so if a character just appears Not a hammer with a flat head, but a 2-foot
back there, the traitor does not surprise the PC. (60cm) sphere of an unknown white alloy set on
Once discovered, the traitor will attack anyone a shaft of bone-white cerramosteel and covered
who is near the crystal, and if that is safe or in glowing sapphire runes of an unknown alien
shattered, they’ll go for anyone near the king. script.
If the traitor has been killed or driven away by Effect: When activated, does its level in damage,
the characters previous to this encounter, the and maybe more (see below). Activation lasts ten
red crystal is guarded by a captain of the same minutes.
race as the traitor. On a Natural 17+ Hit: Additional effects: target is
dazed 1 round, and if human-sized or smaller, the
THE KING IS DEAD target is knocked prone.
When the characters finally take down the king, When not activated, the hammer acts as a
they find inside his head a gray, twisted mummy heavy weapon and the glowing runes dim.
that bubbles into green goo. The third eye drops Quirk: After a hit, the wielder’s hands glow white
out of the stone head. It’s a fist-sized red gem. for ten minutes. A second hit resets the timer.
It’s useful during the nightmare storm and the Depletion: 1 in 1d20
Queen’s Tower events, since no praithian spectre
can harm anyone in direct physical contact with Tasss says: “We have summoned an airship. It
the gem. should be only a matter of days. Until then, you
and the children are our honored guests. The
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Queen's Tower hasn’t fallen yet, but it’s just a

matter of time. The princess was grievously
wounded, but she’s recovering in her crystal
tower, tended to by the machines of loving grace.
Take this artifact and these cyphers as a reward
for freeing us.”
The slithik hands out a cypher bag, level 4. The
Cypher Bag, slithik also gives out one random cypher to every
page 303 character.
Tasss, (and Breesh if still there), ask questions
about the fight in the throne room. This is a time as they are driven by the wind. The unfortunates
for characters to brag and relax. Allow a full 28 are pulled up into the storm, only to be flung
hours for recovery rolls. away, careening into buildings and falling into the
rubble.
ARTIFACT: THE DEAD
KING’S EYE SECRETS OF THE
This artifact is slowly losing its power now that PRAITHIAN KNIGHTS
the king is dead. Before the characters have time to leave the
GM Note: Anyone Level: 8 Queen’s Head Inn, a dh’lann runner comes from
slapping on a fuzzy Form: Large red crystal eye. Can be carried in a the Crystal Tower.
orange patch learns that backpack or sling. “The princess is too wounded to leave the
blunt weapons are most Effect: Adds 5 temporary Intellect to the person machines of loving grace, but she sends these
effective against carrying the eye. Once these points are spent, gifts. She says the queen is known to have her
praithians. they cannot be recovered. own complement of knights, and these patches
Anyone in physical contact with The dead king’s will give you insights on how to combat them. The
eye cannot be touched by a praithian spectre. fuzzy orange one will help your attacks on them,
Depletion: 1 in 1d6, roll once per day. and the smooth blue patches teach you how best
to dodge. There is a price however. You have to
give some of yourself to learn.”
The hexagonal patches dissolve into the skin,
and leave a stain for a week before fading. Each
Leads in: Breather, page 37 costs 2xp to use. If the character doesn’t have
Leads out: Queen's Tower, page 39 2xp, the patches do nothing. There are enough
for everyone to have one of each color, but no
one has to take one.
Just before dawn, you wake up to a strange
The fuzzy orange patch makes the character
feeling in the air. A dh’lann solider with a
trained in attacking praithian knights.
bandaged head pounds on your doors.
The smooth blue patch makes the character
“The Queens Tower has woken up! There is a
trained in defending against attacks by praithian
nightmare storm coming from the tower! The
knights.
entire city might fall off the ledge! Our forces
In game-mechanics terms, these “cyphers” are
are falling back in disarray. It’s impossible for
really just prompts to spend 2xp to earn medium-
an airship to land! Disaster!”
term benefits.

The soldier points out a window, where the DENIZENS OF THE

Queen’s Tower is visible. The tower floats over
the rubble-strewn streets; overhead a whirling
HOWLING WIND
storm gathers, flashing with purple lightning. In Even as the characters face the Queen’s Tower,
fact, the lightning is shooting up into the storm, only a few blocks away, vast seas of praithian
flashing out of a glowing golden obelisk atop the spectres float toward the characters from rubble
queen’s Tower. It seems the obelisk is feeding the strewn streets. A ghostly royal specter leads the
storm. others.
Swirling around the tower are what look like “That’s Queen Grieva!” says the runner, pointing
praithian mummies–tall, slim, and dead. at the figure leading the spectral mob moving in
However, these are translucent, ghostly. The from the left.
storm seems to be spawning praithian spectres. Once outside, the characters will face the wrath
Floaters have also been drawn into the vortex. of Queen Grieva the Lost, as she sends praithian
Usually docile, they grab at dh’lanns and slithiks
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spectres, chy floaters, and her projection against

them.
FLYING UP THE
GM Intrusion:
Characters that can cast esoteries notice thin TOWER Gale-force gusts
golden tendrils of light connect the queen and Flying, should that be an option for the hammer a flying
the spectres to top of the Queen’s Tower and the characters, is no easy task while the nightmare character. They are
golden obelisk. storm tears at them. There are three platforms smashed into the
on the way up, and then there is the final top tower and fall, taking
THE NIGHTMARE level with the golden obelisk. double damage and
Those who can fly must succeed on a Speed roll. gaining a broken arm.
CHASE It is a difficulty 3 to reach the bottom door, 5 to
A slow-moving mob of spectres with numbers in reach the first platform, 7 to reach the second
the thousands is after the characters with the platform, 8 to reach the third platform, and 9 to
queen’s projection egging them on. reach the top of the tower. Broken Arm,
If characters fail by 1–3 points, they are forced page 114
You see Tasss-Klish and Purl-Vass (change the away, but can land at the level below. The level
names if they are dead or one is the traitor) below the first platform is the ground.
leading a group of about fifty rebels. “We will Should they fail by 4+, they fall to the ground,
hold them off. See if you can destroy that taking 6 points of ambient damage if they tried
obelisk and end this nightmare storm!” for the lower platform, 7 for the middle, 8 for the
top platform, and 9 for the top of the Praithian Spectre: level
tower. 3/4/4; 1/2/2-hit mook
It only takes four rounds for characters
(1/5/7); 3/4/5 damage;
running and succeeding at difficulty 3/4/5
Speed rolls to reach the Queen’s Tower.
INSIDE THE touch attack ignores
physical armor; can walk
Failing, or otherwise not moving as fast as a QUEEN’S TOWER through solid objects
run will let 1/2/3 spectres attack the Inside the tower, the walls, floors, and high outside of the Queen’s
character. Remember that any character ceilings are made of glossy ceramosynth, lit Tower; page 54
touching the dead king’s eye can’t be by flickering silver glowglobes. The walls
touched by a spectre. are flat black, making it hard to see how far Praithian Spectre
The mob is deceptively slow, since it can away they are. The floors are golden and Swarm: composed of 6-
move through material objects to cut the ceilings wet-looking crimson. Most 10 spectres, attacks as
corners and get at the characters. furnishings and accents are a glossy white. level 5/6/6; does double
During each round, one character will be While it will take a while, the horde of damage
attacked by a chy floater. praithian spectres (minus the queen’s
projection), will enter the tower and
NIGHTMARE STORM EFFECTS attempt to catch up with the characters. They are
unable to walk through the materials of the Queen’s Projection: level
Nanos and any others who can cast esoteries
Queen’s Tower, and will have to take the main 7/8/8; 1 health; 1
feel queasy. They feel the power of life waning Intellect damage; If
and the power of death waxing. ramp up. If characters come up with clever ideas
“killed” will reappear 100
Tell everyone that while the storm lasts, all to block or slow the spectres down, let them.
feet (30m) further away
recovery rolls are at -1. If the characters are taking a long time getting to
amid a crowd of
But all damage results are at +1. the top, have the spectres catch up. They should
praithian spectres. The
remain a threat while the characters move up the next round she will streak
tower. up to short range;
The tower contains many undefined rooms and page 54
corridors. Most are dusty disused chambers filled
with reminders of bygone glory. You have plenty
Leads in: Nightmare Storm, page 38 of leeway to add interesting discoveries and
Leads out: Farewell Urbamorr, page 46 challenges should the characters leave the main Chy Floater: level 3/4/4;
The Queen’s Tower is the last challenge the ramp.
2-hit mook (6/7/8); 3/4/5
characters face before returning to the world damage; stinging
above. It is a difficult challenge, and this time the tentacle has Might
characters don’t have the princess with them. “GROUND” LEVEL poison that inflicts an
Strewn around under the bottom of the tower Actually floating some 30 feet (9m) above the additional 2/3/4 points of
are fallen rebels and tumbled siege equipment. rubble, the bottom of the tower has massive Speed damage; page 50
The wind howls and the spectre mob approaches. doors swinging in the wind, twisted and hanging
A difficulty 3 Might roll is all that is needed to get by threads of synth. The rebels had just gotten
a fallen siege ladder back into place to reach the the doors open when the nightmare storm swept
bottom of the floating tower. them away.

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On the floor lies a praithian who died trying

to hold the doors shut.
Deeper into the large room, a praithian
knight stands before a ramp leading up.
Unlike most knights, who are gray, this one
is made of glowing red stone. Waves of heat
radiate from the knight.
The red knight is a praithian knight who
does 5 points of heat damage to all in
immediate range. The knight is vulnerable to
cold. All cold-based attacks have an asset
and do +5 damage.

FIRST PLATFORM
There are many hallways opening off the
ramp as it climbs, but many of the high-
ceilinged chambers are empty but for dust.
You can add anything you like to these
rooms. The longer the characters search
without going up, the sooner the spectre
host will catch up with them.
When the characters reach the level of the
first platform, the ramp opens out into a
large circular room. One hundred feet (30m)
across the room, the ramp continues to
spiral up the tower.
This chamber is full of slabs of glossy black
synthglass, exactly like in The Bridge. Inside
the black, the characters can see the thin,
idealized giants that represent how the
praithians see themselves. If the PCs
approach the glass, they hear voices in their
minds.
"Whom do I trust? Queen or Princess?"
"Princess Duphreen claims the pillar of
souls will not hold!"
These voices are dreaming praithians in
panic. The dream engines are collapsing,
brought down by the slave revolt. Some
want to defend the queen, others want to
escape to the princess’ crystal tower and
reincarnate.
Unless the characters have stopped the
spectres somehow, they hear their moaning
as the spectral mob floats up the ramp from
below. This further frightens the praithians
in the black glass.
“What is that? What do they want? What
should we do about them?”
Clever players using Intellect and
negotiation skills will be able to get at least
some of the praithians in the black glass to
try to slow down the spectres. Set the
difficulty low, say 3/4/5, and count good
arguments as assets.

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They then notice a ramp going up and over the Red Knight: level
SECOND PLATFORM railing of the catwalk. Leap into the void to 6/7/8; 6/8/10 points of
At the the second platform, the characters come communicate. Armor, armor is halved
to a 30-foot (9m) diameter circular chamber with If characters take the leap, they enter the dream for blunt weapons, -1
white doors set in the black walls to the left and of the floater. It’s lost in a dark cavern and the damage from stabbing
right. Directly ahead the ramp continues up. character is lost with it. Anyone staying behind weapons, cold-based
Once again, there are many ways to leave the sees the characters who jumped spiraling in attacks have an asset
path, but the spiral ramp is the most direct route and +5 damage;
toward the giant floater and beginning to orbit it.
up. Exploring the intervening levels will cause the sword: 8/10/12
In the dreamland of the floater, the characters
spectres to start catching up, but if the characters damage, aura: 5 heat
who took the leap hear it’s worried mind.
convinced the praithians in the black glass to hold damage to all in
"I'm lost." immediate range;
the spectres below, the party has a little "Where is the White Sun? I can’t find my way
breathing room. when hit, target makes
without the White Sun." 2nd Speed defense roll
If they take time to explore on the way up, they "Who commands my children to fight in my or takes 4/5/6 ambient
find a dusty room on the outer rim of the tower. name?" damage and loss of 1
It has synthsteel shutters that, if opened, prove to The last thoughts come with fuzzy perceptions point of armor; minor
be a portal to the outside world. Thirty feet (9m) of floaters attacking dh’lanns and slithiks. and major effects;
directly above are massive outer shutters, irised If the mind is freed, the queen loses the ability page 53
shut. They are the outdoor opening to the Hall of to summon new floaters, and most of those
the Floating Mind (below). already under her control will be freed. She’s able Pillar of souls, page 42
If the characters have done nothing to slow to keep half (round down) of those on the top of
down the spectres and they stay to explore this the tower because of her proximity, but no more.
level, the spectres will appear just as the The player characters may come up with all sorts
characters leave the first door they explore. If the of outlandish plans to free the floater, almost any
player characters have come up with ways to plan should work. The characters have two
slow down the spectres, they can explore what’s problems to overcome before the spectres arrive:
behind both white doors before the spectres free the mind and free the body of the giant
appear. A quick dash up the ramp will leave the floater.
spectres behind, but not deterred. To free the mind, characters in the floater’s
dream could succeed on an Intellect 5/6/7 to
connect the floater to someone on the An
Domorr or the River of Stars itself.
Characters in the dream could connect their
If any of the characters has telepathic powers, minds to the floater’s mind and succeed on an
they “hear” in their mind the thoughts of Intellect 5/6/7 to weaken the bonds and waken
something large and childlike from behind the the floater.
white door on the left. It feels lost and confused. Characters could sever the synth cables. This
Similarly, any character with an ability to use requires climbing the roof of a domed ceiling
esoteries or sense strange numenera such as (difficulty 6) and cutting through cables with an
those with the Weird descriptor, sense something armor of 4 and 4 health.
“big” is behind the left door. Once the mind is freed, the characters get a
Listening at the left door the characters can hear strong telepathic projection: Let me out!
a slight wind, as though the air inside the To free the body, the PCs could use detonation
chamber is constantly circulating. cyphers or some other destructive force to blow
Opening the door is as simple as approaching it the door to allow the floater to exit the tower.
and thinking about opening it. The door irises A successful difficulty 5/6/7 Might roll would
open to reveal the Hall of the Floating Mind. It’s a force the old door open to the outside world. A
massive circular hall with catwalks around its 5/6/7 roll is required to open the numenera lock.
perimeter that run from the entry all the way to a Both the body and the mind must be freed, or
massive door to the outside world. the floaters will still attack the characters at the
In the center of the chamber is an enormous 70- top of the tower.
foot (21m) diameter floater, which looks very
much like a giant floating brain trailing tendrils.
Thick synth cables reach from the domed ceiling
and plug into the brain-like creature. The white door on the right is locked with a
Anyone who steps onto the catwalk gets a difficulty 5 numenera lock. A white circle over the
telepathic message: Do not free the captive. door provides the guards a means of watching
anyone approach the door.

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If someone attempts to open it, they hear a blocking the way. Flanking the knight is one
deep voice coming from the white circle. First it praithian spectre for each player character
Mastigophores, speaks in a few unknown languages, including present.
page 245 Urbamorrish, then switches to the Truth. “The art Five feet (1.5m) above a human’s reach is a
exhibit is closed. Please come back after the ladder going straight up into a circular opening in
execution of all rebels.” the 30-foot (9m) tall ceiling. Inside the opening
Once opened, the door reveals a pure white are flickering yellow lights and blinking
corridor going 30 feet (9m) and ending in a black numenera. It’s a difficulty 5 Might roll for PCs to
GM Intrusion: As the door. The door is flanked by giant praithian heads jump up and catch the ladder and pull themselves
characters stop to loot sitting on the floor. They are empty, but behind up. Running first is an asset.
the art room, one of the them lurk 1/2/3 mastigophores guarding the It’s obvious the 20-foot (6m) tall black knight
sculptures comes to life. installation. could not follow the characters into the narrow
It is a giant six-legged Behind the unlocked black door lies an shaft.
canine, level 5/6/7; 2/3/4 exhibition of art consisting almost exclusively of The characters hear the praithian spectres
points of Armor. The first sculpture made of ceramofoam. Abstract shapes approaching from behind (unless they’ve really
attack is by two levels of vie with sculptures of praithians, dh’lanns, stopped them somehow). Most tactics will only
surprise.
slithiks, floaters, and more. Many of the pieces slow them down, since the spectres can always
are enormous, 20 feet (6m) or more. However, find new ways up the tower. The characters
there are enough smaller items that the might have to deal with both the group in front
characters could loot the place and have enough and the group behind.
to sell for a fortune in a big city back on the
surface. Allow each character to carry enough to
You hear the moaning and whispering of the
sell for 500 shins when they get back (less if your
praithian specters trying to follow you into the
next adventure requires they be hungry for
Queen’s Tower. Do you do anything to slow
money).
them down?
Hidden among the sculptures is an artifact. An
Imager, page 306
Imager containing an image of each piece of art
sits upon a white circular platform. The last image Any good idea will work for a while. Otherwise,
is of Contessa Kynndance, supervising dh’lanns in the PCs will find themselves engaged with the
setting up the art exhibit. spectral host.

Black Knight: level 6/7/8; THIRD PLATFORM: As soon as the black knight sees the characters,
8/10/12 points of Armor,
THE PILLAR OF he will speak in a thundering voice: "Invaders!
armor is halved for blunt
You have trespassed on the Pillar of Souls!"
weapons, -1 damage
from stabbing weapons,
SOULS Although the black knight cannot enter the Pillar
ignore armor on natural
Characters who continue up the ramp will find of Souls, he is bound to it. He will send his war
19+; 8/10/12 damage + 1 themselves below the Pillar of Souls. snakes up after the characters. His black surface
Intellect damage; on hit, flickers, and every so often shows plain gray
target makes 2ⁿ� Speed stone beneath the blackness. He acts as a normal
defense roll or hit for Leaving the ramp and exploring the rest of the praithian knight but starts with 2 extra points of
4/5/6 ambient damage tower, the characters find little except empty armor. The black knight does an additional 1
and loss of 1 point of rooms and shuttered windows. Careful searching point of Intellect damage with his black sword.
armor; minor and major will reveal a locked door (difficulty 3) that leads to The black knight has a weakness: his flickering
effects; page 53 an access shaft with a ladder. armor is failing. Every successful hit on the black
Climbing down puts the characters just above knight with a natural 19+ ignores armor.
the roof of the Hall of the Floater, where they can Inside the stone armor, lies a praithian made
Reduced Black Knight:
destroy the level 5/6/7 controls that keep it a entirely of black shadow.
level 6/7/8; 8/10/12
prisoner and extract 1d6 cyphers from the control If the Pillar of Souls is destroyed, the black
damage; on hit, target
panels. knight’s armor goes to 0 and his sword no longer
makes 2ⁿ� Speed defense
roll or hit for 4/5/6 Directly above the control room is a hatch that does Intellect damage.
ambient damage and opens to an unlit corridor leading to another
loss of 1 point of armor; door. Behind that is a catwalk circling the Pillar of The Pillar of Souls is a major component of the
minor and major effects; Souls. praithian dream engines. Destroying it weakens
page 53 the queen and many of her forces.
Those who follow the ramp find it flattens out The top of the ladder leads via a short walk to an
into a 30-foot (9m) diameter circular chamber. opening revealing a massive chamber that
Across the chamber the ramp continues up, but a reaches from the bottom to the top of the
praithian knight made of black stone stands Queen’s Tower. Inside this chamber is a 20-foot
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(6m) wide golden crystal spanning the entire

height of the tower from top to bottom. In fact,
TOP OF THE QUEEN’S
the large obelisk seen on the top of the tower TOWER
appears to be only the tip of this enormous
crystal. The crystal sizzles with energy.
There is a catwalk that leads both to the crystal You find yourself atop the Queen’s Tower. The
and around it. Near the crystal, at the end of the top is about 150 feet (45m) in diameter. The
catwalk, is an open-air control room hovering edge is a shear drop, lacking an outer wall or
amid golden lightning. Characters can feel their railing. Four towers of glowing yellow and
hair standing on end due to the crackling energies white synth extend another 50 feet (15m)
of this chamber. above you. These towers are mostly open
Every round in this chamber, a praithian spectre scaffolding mixed with geometric sheets of Praithian Spectre: level
floats up the shaft and attempts to attack the synth that pulse with power. In the center of 3/4/4; 1/2/2-hit mook
closest character. Since the spectres are silent the tower is a 30-foot (9m) tall golden crystal (1/5/7); 3/4/5 damage;
and the chamber is loud, have the target obelisk. touch attack ignores
character make an Intellect roll (difficulty 6, Two gray and black ceramosteel platforms physical armor; can walk
perception helps) or the first attack is by surprise. hover 20 feet (6m) above the floor, one to the through solid objects
When this exhausts all the spectres that were east and one to the west of the center obelisk. outside of the Queen’s
with the black knight, new spectres from the Tower; page 54
The eastern platform is unmanned, and holds
horde will float up, 2 per round, unless the what looks like a podium covered in blinking
characters have bought themselves a lot of time. numenera. It floats very close to one of the
To use the catwalk, characters must move synth towers.
through the lightning to reach the control room. The left platform holds Queen Grieva. The
They must succeed in a difficulty 4 Speed roll queen is tall, thin, and mummy-like, with synth
(balance) or be swept away by energy fields that tubes running from her throne directly into
have them flying in circles around the crystal. her neck.
Every round they tumble in the air, the golden In front of the obelisk stand 1/2/3 white
lightning strikes them for 3 Intellect damage. praithian knights. Thick fog flows down their
Someone could rescue them as they fly by, with frost-rimed white surfaces. Even from here,
another difficulty 4 Speed roll. you feel a chill radiating from these knights.
Once they reach the control room, a successful
numenera roll, difficulty 5/6/7 will shut down the
Pillar of Souls. Opening the control panel yields The ramp up opens onto the top of the tower.
2d6 shins, 1d6 cyphers, and 1 oddity. The queen sits on a throne that hovers 20 feet
When the pillar shuts down, the characters hear (6m) above the ebony tiles of the rooftop. She’s
an echoing shriek. The praithian spectres who not alone, but none of her guards moves to
have followed the characters up from the streets attack.
are gone. The number of praithian spectres on Depending on the characters’ past actions and
the top of the tower is halved (round down), and their inclinations, this can be kick-ass combat or a
the queen cannot summon any more. The tense negotiation. Watch the players, see what
nightmare storm is over, but unless the they are in the mood for. They may be ready to White Knight: level
characters go to the platform and look outside, rumble, or they may be sick of the fighting, and 6/7/8; 6/8/10 points of
they don’t know that. just want it to end. If it’s not obvious, give them a Armor, armor is halved
Should they wish to leave the tower after prompt by having the queen say, “Why have you for blunt weapons, -1
shutting down the storm, they can. Later they will destroyed my people?” damage from stabbing
hear of the queen’s suicide. This gives the characters an opportunity to weapons, heat attacks
The much-reduced knight will be waiting at the parley, but lets them know it won’t be easy. gain asset and do +5
bottom of the ladder, if he is still alive. damage; sword: 8/10/12
Alternatively, the characters could leave by damage + 1 Intellect
another exit. They see a catwalk spiraling up and Anyone in immediate range of a white knight damage, all in
ending at a door 50 feet (15m) above them. takes 5 points of cold damage. Each knight wields immediate range take 5
Beyond the door the ramp continues up. This an enormous blue cryogenic sword that does an cold damage; on hit,
allows the characters to bypass the black knight extra 1 Speed damage on every hit. Otherwise, target makes 2ⁿ� Speed
they function as normal praithian knights. defense roll or hit for
and continue on to the queen.
The white knights are vulnerable to fire. Fire- 4/5/6 ambient damage
The Pillar of Souls is worth 1 discovery xp for
and heat-based attacks gain an asset and do +5 and loss of 1 point of
each character.
damage. armor; minor and major
effects; page 53

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OBELISK: DEAD OR ALIVE? floaters attending the queen. Once combat starts,
If the characters shut down the Pillar of Souls, the floater control platform will bring another
the crystal obelisk is a dull gold, edging to orange. floater down from the storm to attack the
The clouds above are parting, and shaft of white characters every round.
light from The Sun Below moves slowly across the
tower. Take the number of characters in the
group and divide by two (round down) to get the
number of praithian spectres who are left to do While it’s possible to gain a diplomatic solution at
the queen’s bidding. this point, a lot will depend on past actions. If the
If the characters did not shut down the Pillar of characters are successful at getting the queen to
Golden Obelisk: level Souls, the obelisk shines brightly, filling the area stand down, there are two possible outcomes:
6/7/8; 4/5/6 points of with golden white light. Lightning shoots out of she will either commit suicide or form an alliance
Armor; 18/21/24 health; the obelisk up into the storm. A massive spiral with her daughter.
6/7/8 heat damage
storm whirls above the tower. One praithian To find the difficulty in getting the queen to
(short); Speed defense as stand down, start with her level: 7/8/9.
spectre for every member of the party swirls
level 1 due to immobility Each of the following factors will lower the
around the obelisk. Once combat starts, the
obelisk will bring another spectre down from the difficulty by 1:
GM Intrusion: ● Princess Duphreen is still alive and is allied
Obelisk heat blast at storm to attack the characters every round.
with the characters.
level 8/9/10 for 12/14/16 HAS THE FLOATING MIND ● Contessa Kyyndance is still alive.
heat damage (short) BEEN FREED? ● The characters attempted to parley with the
If the characters have freed the floating mind, king.
there are no remaining floaters here to serve the ● The Pillar of Souls has been shut down.
queen, and none will come to her aid. ● The floating mind has been freed.
If the characters have not freed the floating Each of these factions will increase the difficulty
mind, take the number of characters and divide by 1:
by 2 (round up) to determine the number of chy ● The princess is dead.
● The contessa is dead.
● The horde of praithian spectres engulfs the
characters during negotiations (a fine use of
a GM Intrusion if the Pillar of Souls is still
operational).
Good arguments are assets. Deceiving,
intimidation, and persuasion skills may all be
used.
Should the characters succeed, the queen nods.
“Our time is over. Let the killing end.”
Any praithian spectres vanish, knights drop their
swords, and floaters float away. The nightmare
storm breaks up.

The queen sits wearily back onto her throne,

takes the spear of the frozen void, points it at
her own heart, and gets ready to end her life.
“This world has nothing for me. And nothing
for Duphreen, but she doesn’t know it yet.”

Ask the characters what they do.

It’s not obvious how they can physically
intervene and stop the queen, but you never
know. Any plan that makes sense will work.
Another successful negotiation could work.
Again start with the queen’s level: 7/8/9.
Each of the following factors will lower the
difficulty by 1:
● The princess lives.
● The contessa lives.

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 City on the Edge

● The Pillar of Souls has not been shut down looking, like a plant. The spear’s flat blade is Queen Grieva: level
yet. This gives the praithians a little ghostly and wavering. 7/8/9; Speed defense
breathing room as they line up to become Effect: When activated: Ignores Armor and does 6/7/8; 8 points of armor
embodied. its level in cold damage. The spear requires an vs. energy, 4 vs. physical
Intellect spend to add damage using effort and a attacks; 2 attacks a
Each of these factions will increase the difficulty Speed spend when using effort to lower the round: 1) eye of chill
attack difficulty. It only affects living biological mind: (long) 7/8/9
by 1:
Intellect damage and
● The princess is dead. beings and will not hurt constructs or energy
move 1 level down on the
● The characters used Intimidation on the beings.
damage track or spear
queen in the earlier negotiation. When not activated, the spear acts as a staff.
8/9/10 cold damage,
Activation lasts ten minutes. ignores armor;
Again, good arguments are assets. Quirk: The wielder’s shadow looks like the 2) psychic whirlpool: AoE
Before the die is cast, if the characters shadow of the last creature killed with an (short) 3 Intellect
attempted to talk the queen down, the princess activated spear. damage
shows up with a retinue of embodied praithians. Depletion: 1 in 1d20
This lowers the difficulty by 3 as Princess THE QUEEN’S TACTICS
Duphreen takes the queen’s hand and begs her to The knights will stand in front of the queen, Praithian Spectre: level
come back fully to life. attempting to stay within the 50-foot (15m) range 3/4/4; 1/2/2-hit mook
If the queen lives, she hands the spear, shaft of her eye of doom. (1/5/7); 3/4/5 damage;
first, to a character. “Take this away. I don’t want touch attack ignores
The praithian spectres will throw themselves at
to see this again.” physical armor; can walk
the characters. If the obelisk is still operating, not
If the queen kills herself, the princess breaks through solid objects
only will it summon a new praithian every round
down. She will pull the spear out of her mother, outside of the Queen’s
but each round 1d6 spectres show up as the Tower; page 54
and offer it to a character, using the same words, horde from below arrives.
but with a heavier tone. Any chy floaters attack. As long as both the Praithian Spectre
floater-control platform is summoning them and Swarm: composed of 6-
Sometimes it comes to a fight. If the characters the floating mind is not released, a new chy 10 spectres, attacks as
fail at negotiation, or don’t bother to try, they floater is pulled down from the sky every round. level 5/6/6; does double
must stop the queen by force of arms. The obelisk, if active, is summoning praithian damage
spectres and controlling the nightmare storm. It
QUEEN GRIEVA can shoot at one target a round at immediate
A shiny, metallic mist swirls about the queen,
range: a golden ray for 6/7/8 heat damage. Chy Floater: level 3/4/4;
giving her 8 armor against energy attacks, 4
You feel a searing pain and smell your flesh 2-hit mook (6/7/8); 3/4/5
armor vs. physical attacks.
sizzling. damage; stinging
She is armed with the spear of the frozen void.
She will use it on any who come close. Normally THE FLOATER-CONTROL tentacle has Might
PLATFORM poison that inflicts an
she uses her eye of chill mind and psychic
additional 2/3/4 points of
whirlwind, however in this situation she will try Climbing up the nearby tower to the platform is
Speed damage; page 50
her mind control as a GM Intrusion at the start of only difficulty 2. Identifying how to control the
combat. The mind-controlled character will then platform is difficulty 4, modified by knowledge of
be directed to attack an ally. the numenera. If successful, the character can
Getting into melee range with the queen is
difficult, but if a character climbs aboard the
other floating platform, it can be piloted over to
the queen with a difficulty 4 (numenera) task. If
there are floaters in the battle, they will defend
that platform, because the podium controls both
the platform and the floaters.
If the queen is losing, she’ll rail against the
characters. “Duphreen is a fool to trust killers like
you!”
If the characters spare the queen’s life, cut to
her suicide attempt above.
ARTIFACT: SPEAR OF THE
FROZEN VOID
Level: 1d6 + 4 (8/9/10)
Form: A white spear that seems to have been
grown, not forged. It is smooth and organic

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 The Sun Below
GM Note: Returning to now pilot the platform and turn off the floater ends up in a large open field, with two swings
the surface with summoning device. hanging from a blue-bark tree.
knowledge of the world
of the Sun Below is worth “You go to the best places,” she says
2xp for each character. THE RETURN breathlessly. “Can the Captain and I come visit
you someday?”
If the characters have bonded the pair, you may
wish to use Lebby, Captain Klorsh, and the An
Domorr in future adventures with your players.
Leads in: Queen’s Tower, page 39 Eventually, the ship docks and the captain and
Leads out: Return to the World Above, page 46 Lebby say their farewells. The shaft up has a
The surviving NPCs again treat the characters as reverse gravity field. After falling up for quite
heroes, and quickly find Tuctin and Tar and return some time, the characters are greeted at the
them to the PCs. An airship is summoned, and the surface station by Aeon Priest Mishka and a
characters have time to recover. number of lesser priests, guards, and scribes, all
The dh’lanns and slithiks are free, and probably working for the Order of Truth.
plan on migrating from the city to the floor of the “Tuctin! Tar!” Mishka is overjoyed to see the
world below. If any praithians survive, they will children.
probably stay in Urbamorr, centered around the Mishka, having lost her husband to the travonis
Crystal Tower. ul, is conflicted. At least her grandchildren are
Of course, past events and PC input could safe. A huge celebration is planned, and the
change any of these plans. characters enter Uxphon at the head of a big
parade. The seven families have declared a
holiday and are giving away food and drink. That’s
enough to make most of the city-folk cheer
whoever the heck is at the front of the parade.
Leads in: Farewell Ubramorr, page 46 At the Square of the Seven Families, Lady Ningo,
Leads out: Wedding, page 47 an old, pompous, and somewhat scattered
The king is dead, the queen either reconciled to noblewoman, gives them ceremonial pipe-shaped
her daughter or dead, a few hundred praithians keys to the city.
have returned to the living, and the slaves are
free. The characters are heroes. Tar and Tuctin CLAN TAN
are ready to go home, though they seem to like If the characters told the old couple it was safe to
the reflected fame they share by being so close to go see the face at the start of the adventure,
the great liberators. Twyr and Holai Tan are dead and buried. The
The gong summons an airship. The An Domorr characters see a few groups of people with hard
returns, with Captain Klorsh and Lebby. faces glaring at them from among the mostly
“Welcome aboard, and well done,” says Captain jubilant city folk. Some throw rotten vegetables
Klorsh. “We’re to show you every courtesy, and and eggs at the characters.
we will. And little Lebby has taken an interest in Someone yells, “You murdered my gran!”
you.” Soldiers chase down the egg throwers and Lady
The pair make the journey a comfortable one, all Ningo whispers to the characters, “We’ll take care
the way to the top of the world. If the nibovian of them. In 28 hours the whole clan will be
wife’s child by one of the characters was left on cleaned up.”
the ship, the abykos will still be there, probably Unless the characters ask her to hold off, she’s
hanging around the River of Stars. It is still good to her word. All of Clan Tan will find
harmless, but there is no reason the characters themselves in unmarked graves or on the slaver’s
should be so sure of that. auction block within a day. Perhaps one or two
On the way back, they are peppered with might escape and return as assassins or worse in
questions by Lebby. Tuctin and Tar are given some future adventure.
tours of the ship, including the River of Stars. If If the characters kept the old couple back, Twyr
any character ended up with a broken limb or and Holai are there, cheering and waving. Holai
other long-lasting or permanent injury in gives what appears to be a wreath of white
Urbamorr, a swim in the river will cure all. flowers to a young girl (her grandchild) who
As the ship gets close to its destination, Lebby throws the oddity over to the characters.
will invite one of the characters to swing with her. The oddity is a synth flower wreath that acts as a
She climbs up a ladder between gas bags and wind chime. The stronger the breeze, the louder

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 City on the Edge

the chimes. The sound comes out of the white

trumpet shaped flowers. The invitation begins “For your great service in
discovering the Truth,” and then mentions
some of the discoveries and achievements of
BARID the player characters.
If the characters have a connection to Barid the “We would be honored to have you attend
slave, they will see him there as part of a chain the wedding of Gre and Nok.”
gang sweeping the streets for the great heroes. If
the characters ask for Barid’s freedom, it is
granted right away. The wedding can be set anywhere, and
“The others on my chain deserve freedom too,” transportation will be provided by the Order of
says Barid. Truth. Setting the celebration near where your
Lady Ningo turns a stony face toward the man, next adventure will begin would be perfect.
and then smiles. “Fine. It’s a party.” This is a massive wedding, and would be a great
The entire chain is freed. Any of the former setting to place hooks for further adventures. If
slaves might come back as an ally in a future characters wish to join the Order of Truth, the
adventure. reception would be a perfect place to ask.

You see a crowd of dignitaries and common

folk pack the temple. Respected scholars and
Leads in: Return to the Lands Above, page 46
numenera experts from the Steadfast and the
An invitation from Mishka arrives for a wedding
Beyond are all in attendance.
of Gre Thara and Nok Ellel, two Aeon Priests, to
be held in a months’ time in or near the location
of your next adventure.
Gre Thara is the daughter of Mishka Thara and
Ellus Pring. Ellus died at the start of the
adventure, but Mishka would be honored if the
characters attend.

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DH’LANNS
Dh’lanns are violet-skinned hermaphroditic humans, and are common in the world of The Sun Below.
Given their hermaphroditic nature, they don’t use gender-based pronouns. In this text the singular they
is used instead of he or she.

Mook, page 4 Motive: Like other humans, dh’lanns have a variety of motives. A minority of dh’lanns find the concept
of non-hermaphrodite people offensive.
Environment: Any. They are highly adaptable, but are much more common in the world of The Sun
Below than on the surface.
Health: Named dh’lann: 6; unnamed: 1-hit mook
GM Intrusion: A spike of Armor: Usually none.
psychic energy turns an Movement: Short
ordinary dh’lann’s
Modifications: Mindslice as level 3.
mindslice into a level 6
Combat: Dh’lanns can use weapons as any human would. They often use clubs. Or they can make a
attack that does 8 points
ranged attack with their minds: mindslice (onslaught, Intellect attack only) at level 3, 2 Intellect
of Intellect damage.
damage.
Interaction: The Order of Truth has
Praithian mind-control sent Aeon Priests to the
crystal, page 10 underground world of The Sun Below
for over a century, so many dh’lanns
can speak the Truth. The more
educated the dh’lann, the more likely
they are to speak the Truth.
Use: While exploring the world of
The Sun Below, the characters see a
village in the distance. It is a dh’lann
village, and the characters can find
food, perhaps a place to stay the
night, and maybe equipment. If the
dh’lanns discover the characters are
not hermaphrodites, a few may shun
the characters.
Loot: 1d6-1 shins. Important
dh’lanns may carry a cypher or two,
or even an artifact or oddity. Dh’lann
slave: no shins and a praithian mind-
control crystal.

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Motive: Follow orders, defend their homeland, stay alive, and collect loot Mook, page 4
Environment: Any.
Health: Named soldier: 9/12/15; unnamed soldier: 2-hit mook (4/5/6)
Damage Inflicted: 6/8/10
Armor: Level 2: leather jerkin (1); level 3+: beastskin armor (2) GM Intrusion: The
Movement: Short soldier or squad gets
Modifications: Dh’lann soldiers in squads use swarm rules. A squad is 5 - 10 soldiers and attacks at level another attack, at 2
4/5/6 for 12/16/20 damage. Squads use mindslice at level 6/7/8 for 8/10/12 points of Intellect levels higher than
damage. normal. A soldier will do
Combat: In melee, huge greatswords swing, high, low and in between. At range, the soldiers use double damage, a squad
mindslice, a level 4/5/6 attack that does 4/5/6 Intellect damage. quadruple. (A squad
normally does double.)
You feel cold daggers are being thrust into your head.
Interaction: Many soldiers speak the Truth.
Use: A ruin is guarded by dh’lann soldiers. They have orders to let no one pass.
Loot: 1d6 + level shins; slave soldiers: praithian mind-control crystal. Praithian mind-control
crystal, page 10

Motive: Prestige for their community or nation. Well-being of soldiers they command.
Environment: Any, though they are typically found commanding dh’lann soldiers in the lands of The GM Intrusion: The
Sun Below. dh’lann captain the
Health: 15/18/21 character just struck
Damage Inflicted: 8/9/10 wears level 8 liquid
Armor: Synth breastplate (3) ceramosteel armor (4
Movement: Short armor). Upon the armor
Modifications: Captains have 0-2 cyphers and some carry an artifact. Many dh’lann captains are partial is an active controlled
to liquid ceramosteel armor. blinking nodule cypher.
Combat: Captains can make 2 melee attacks a round, or 1 attack at range: mindslice (onslaught, The captain teleports
Intellect attack only) at level 5/6/7 for 5/6/7 Intellect damage. behind the attacker and
Interaction: Dh’lann captains tend to be pretentious, but otherwise will interact as others of their gets a free melee attack
at 2 levels higher for
community and class.
double damage.
Use: A dh’lann captain approaches the characters with a request that feels like a command. “My
soldiers need to get across this river before nightfall. Help them.”
Loot: 2d6 shins, 0-2 cyphers, and sometimes an artifact and/or oddity. Slave captains: praithian mind-
control crystal. Liquid ceramosteel
armor, page 19

Controlled
Blinking Nodule,
page 283

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FLOATERS

A floating bio-mechanical gas bag about 12 feet (3.5m) across with streaming tendrils, like some mad
jellyfish of the skies.
Motive: Eat small flying creatures and easy-to-reach plants such as the foliage atop trees.
Environment: The skies under The Sun Below.
Health: 2-hit mook (6/7/8)
Damage Inflicted: 3/4/5
Armor: 0
Movement: Short
Modifications: Floats in the air, slower against the wind, faster with it.
Combat: Stinging tendril (3/4/5) + Might roll or lose 2/3/4 Speed.
Interaction: Chy floaters are beast-like and have no speech.
Use: As the characters travel in the wilderness of The Sun Below, they notice shadows from above.
Looking up, they see a group of chy floaters, dragging their tendrils across the tops of trees.
Loot: One can glean 1d3-1 cyphers from a dead chy floater.

A zoach floater has a bio-mechanical body as big as a house and is full of gas bags and numenera. It
drapes tendrils down 50 feet (15m) or more to grab vegetation, animals, and people.
Motive: Omnivorous grazing.
Environment: The air. Common in the world of The Sun Below.
Damage Inflicted: 5/6/7
Modifications: Speed defense 4/5/6 due to size and speed. Can reach targets up to short range.
GM Intrusion: The chy Slashing weapons do 2 additional points of damage, while blunt weapons do 1 less point of
floater grabs a character damage. When a floater is at half its health, it starts sinking to the surface as it deflates. A floater
and pulls them up in the cannot move against a strong wind. The creature counts as a beast and abilities that calm or
air, then lets go in 2/3/4 otherwise affect beasts will work on the floater.
rounds for a 40-foot Combat: A hit by a stinging tendril causes the target to feel as if it’s been pushed into a white-hot forge.
(12m) / 60-foot (18m) / The target must succeed in a Might defense roll or lose 4/5/6 Speed. Any natural 17+ hit with a
80-foot (24m) drop. heat- or fire-based attack on the zoach floater will cause it to explode for its level in fire damage to
Falling damage is all within immediate range. This kills the creature. Anyone inside its digestive sack will take double
ambient damage. damage and then fall, along with the flaming wreckage of the floater.
Interaction: The zoach floater is a beast, and has no language.
Use: While exploring a jungle in the lands of The Sun Below, a character is grabbed by what had
GM Intrusion: The zoach seemed to be a vine, but is really a zoach floater tendril.
floater grabs a character
Loot: There is a strange device that serves as the floater’s brain. Breaking it apart yields 0-2 cyphers and
and stuffs them into its
1d6 shins, unless it exploded, in which case only 1d3 shins and no cyphers.
digestive sack. Each
round any organic armor
loses 1 AP and the
character takes 5/6/7
points of ambient
damage. Characters
inside the sack when the
floater explodes take
double damage.

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PRAITHIANS
Praithians appear to be desiccated mummies with numenera devices somehow
keeping them “alive.” Typically, they shield themselves in giant stone heads,
and few other peoples have ever seen their actual forms. They are 8 feet
(2.4m) tall and very thin. Their long heads are three eyed. The third eye is the
locus of their psychic powers.
The third eye of their stone shells protrudes from their foreheads and appears to
be a decorative stone sphere. When a praithian uses an eye attack, the stone
eye glows brightly.

Thirteen-foot (4m) tall stone heads that levitate above the ground. They have
narrow faces, long chins, and high foreheads complete with glowing third eyes.
Motive: To dream and never have to deal with the mundane world of actual
existence.
Environment: Urban, supported by massive dream engines that hold their minds
and dream worlds.
Damage Inflicted: 4/5/6
Armor: 4/6/8
Movement: Short (levitating)
Modifications: Armor is halved for blunt weapons. A praithian has a Speed defense
of 3/4/5 due to its large size. Stabbing weapons do 1 less point of damage due
to the thick ceramostone covering. If struck with a 19 or 20 for a major or
minor effect, the character can choose to strike at a crack in the stone and
ignore the praithian’s armor.
Minor effect suggestion when hit by a blunt weapon: the ceramostone rings like a bell, and the
praithian is stunned for one turn.
Major effect suggestion when hit with a blunt weapon: the armor cracks in half, dropping the armor to GM Intrusion: The
0 and revealing an 8-foot (2.5m) tall lurching mummy with a large, narrow head and three eyes. praithian uses mind
control to force a
The praithian will likely flee after this, and any attacks on the newly uncovered mummy gain an
character to make an
asset to hit.
immediate attack on
Combat: A praithian can make two attacks each round. another character of the
Eye of Doom: A searing hot beam of red energy lances out of the third eye, up to long range, doing the GM’s choice using the
praithian’s level in damage. This beam ignores 1/2/3 points of physical armor. combat between PCs
Psychic Whirlpool: This is an area of effect group attack that inflicts 1 Intellect damage per praithian in rules. Tie rolls go to the
short range. For every 5 praithians, add one to the attack level. Praithians and those with mind- uncontrolled character.
control crystals are immune to the psychic whirlpool. Every turn, the mind-
Interaction: Praithians are haughty and most believe other races exist merely to serve them as slaves. controlled character can
Most praithians are unconscious, their minds busy living in their own dreamspace shard of the attempt to break free by
datasphere. Conscious praithians tend to be arrogant and upset that they have been forced to succeeding on an
interact with the real world. Intellect defense roll
Use: As the characters explore some ruins under The Sun Below, they come upon some giant three- (4/5/6) to break free as a
eyed stone heads. The heads lie scattered about, many are covered in moss and vines. Suddenly, free action.
one of the heads levitates, its third eye pulsing with power. Only one character can
Loot: Breaking open a praithian reveals the mummy inside and 1d6 cyphers and 1d6 shins. be controlled at a time.
The praithian can
relinquish control at will.

Combat Between
PCs, page 98

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 The Sun Below

GM Intrusion: The royal Royals are encased in more ornate stone heads than ordinary praithians.
praithian uses mind Motive: Maintain the Praithian Empire, dream.
control to force a Environment: Hidden enclaves in the world of The Sun Below, the praithian shards of the datasphere.
character to make an
Health: 21/24/27
immediate attack on
Damage Inflicted: 7/8/9
another character of the
GM’s choice using the
Armor: 4/6/8 (2/3/4 vs. blunt weapons and explosions)
combat between PCs Movement: Short
rules. Tie rolls go to the Modifications: Armor is halved for blunt weapons. A royal praithian has a Speed defense of 6/7/8 due
uncontrolled character. to its large size. Stabbing weapons do 1 less point of damage on royals due to their thick
Every turn, the mind- ceramostone covering. If struck with a 19 or 20 for a major or minor effect, the character can
controlled character can choose to strike at a crack in the stone and ignore the royal’s armor.
attempt to break free by Minor effect suggestion when hit by a blunt weapon: the ceramostone rings like a bell, and the royal
succeeding on an praithian is stunned for one turn.
Intellect defense roll Major effect suggestion when hit with a blunt weapon: the armor cracks in half, dropping the armor to
(7/8/9) to break free as a 0 and revealing an 8-foot (2.5m) tall lurching mummy with a large, narrow head and three eyes.
free action. The royal praithian will likely flee after this, and any attacks on the newly uncovered mummy gain
Only one character can an asset to hit.
be controlled at a time. Combat: A royal praithian can make two attacks per round.
The praithian can Eye of Chill Mind: (long) a cyan beam which lances out of the third eye. It does 7/8/9 Intellect damage
and moves the unfortunate character down one on Damage Track.
You feel like your head is locked inside a ponderously heavy block of ice.
Psychic Whirlpool: This is an area of effect area of effect group attack that inflicts 3 Intellect damage
per royal praithian in short range, and 1 Intellect damage for every ordinary praithian in short
range. For every 5 praithians, add one to the attack level, counting royal praithian as 3 praithians.
Praithians and those with mind-control crystals are immune to the psychic whirlpool.
Interaction: Praithians speak telepathically.
Use: The characters come upon a praithian enclave. The leader is a royal, and is interested either in
trade or slaves.
Loot: 1d6 shins, 1d6 cyphers, and 1 oddity

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A praithian knight looks like a faceless 20-foot (6m) tall stone giant with an enormous sword of blue
flame.
Motive: Honor, praithian supremacy, serving the royals.
Environment: Anywhere praithians have an interest
Health: 18/21/24
Damage Inflicted: 8/10/12
Armor: 6/8/10, 3/4/5 vs. blunt weapons and explosions
Movement: Slow
Modifications: Armor is halved for blunt weapons. A praithian knight has a Speed defense of 5/6/7 due
GM Intrusion: The knight
to its large size. Stabbing weapons do 1 less point of damage due to the thick ceramostone
spins around, attacking
covering. If struck with a 19 or 20 for a major or minor effect, the character can choose to strike at all enemies in immediate
a crack in the stone that ignores all armor. range. Any hit causes
Minor effect suggestion when hit by a blunt weapon: the ceramostone rings like a bell, and the double damage, but skips
praithian is stunned for one turn. the secondary Speed
Major effect suggestion when hit with a blunt weapon: the armor cracks in half, dropping the armor to defense attack.
0 and revealing an 8-foot (2.5m) tall lurching mummy with a large, narrow head and three eyes.
The praithian knight cannot lift his sword and will likely flee after this, and any attacks on the
newly uncovered mummy gain an asset to hit.
Combat: The 10-foot (3m) long sword of blue flame does 8/10/12 points of painful burning damage. If
hit, the target must succeed on a Speed defense roll or the knight presses the flame into the
character’s armor, dropping the armor value by 1 until repaired, and the target takes 4 more
painful points of burn damage, ignoring armor. The armor damage stacks until the armor is
destroyed.
Interaction: Unless the knights are under orders to parley or converse, they
maintain a strict silence.
Use: A praithian ruin seems open to plundering, until the 20-foot (6m)
“statues” come to life.
Loot: Looting a dead knight yields 1d6 shins, 1d6 cyphers. The flaming sword
blade sputters and vanishes if the knight is killed. The hilt counts as an
asset when used a component when crafting new numenera.

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GM Intrusion: A Looking like a glowing version of a praithian spectre, the queen’s projection doesn't hold eye contact.
character struck by the She doesn't hear what characters say or notice what they do. She just knows where they are and brings
queen’s projection spectres to them.
suddenly lets go of the
Motive: Harass the characters.
dead king’s eye and
Environment: Urbamorr during The Nightmare Storm.
walks away from their
Health: 1
companions and into a
crowd of praithian
Damage Inflicted: 1 Intellect
spectres, offering no Armor: 0
resistance as 4/5/6 of the Movement: Long
spectres reach out and Modifications: If “killed,” she will reappear 100 feet (30m) further away amid a crowd of praithian
touch the character. spectres. The next round she will streak up to short range.
Combat: Can drain at short range.
Interaction: The queen feels her whole world is dying, and she’s none too pleased about it. "Feel the
wrath of my people!" "You have destroyed us!"

GM Intrusion: When a These ghosts appear to be thin, translucent mummies, about eight feet (2.5m) tall, floating and flying
praithian spectre is killed, off the ground. They can float right through walls, and will do so in order to touch a living being.
it shrieks and shoves its Motive: Driven mad by the loss of their dream-world, they manifest in praithian ruins and lash out at
incorporeal form into the anyone entering their territory.
mouth of the character Environment: Praithian ruins.
who killed it. The
Health: 1/2/2-hit mook (1/5/7)
character takes 6/8/10
Damage Inflicted: 3/4/5
Intellect damage and
Armor: 0
cannot heal Intellect
through recovery rolls for Movement: Short
28 hours. Modifications: Can walk through material objects, but not through force walls and not through the
walls and floors of the queen’s Tower. There they must follow the ramp up. Spectre swarms of 6-
The spectral mummy 10 can join in a swarm that attacks at level 5/6/6 and does double damage. Since spectres can
shrieks and forces your easily pass through defenses, a large enough mob of spectres can attack each character in a party
mouth open. The ghost with their own individual swarm.
flies down your throat Combat: Their touch ignores armor, with the exception of energy-field armor.
causing a painful cold
A sickening chill grips you deep in your bones. Colors fade and the world turns gray for a moment.
shock to fly up your spine
and freeze your head. Interaction: It’s possible to reach the mad mind of a praithian spectre through telepathy. Unless there
You start to choke, then is a nearby praithian dream engine in repairable state, there is not much one can do for the
cough something up. spectre.
Use: The characters open a long-sealed vault in the lands under The Sun Below. Out pours a swarm of
praithian spectres.
Loot: A character who suffers from a GM Intrusion after killing a praithian spectre starts choking, then
coughs up a small cypher like a hairball.

Mook, page 4

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PRAITHIAN WAR SNAKE 3/4/5

(9/12/15)
A flying snake bred for hunting and war, war snakes are beloved members of many praithian
Mook, page 4
households.
Motive: Hunt, eat, obey the master.
Environment: Mountains in the lands of The Sun Below.
Health: 2-hit mook (6/7/8); a rare, named praithian war snake has health: 9/12/15
Damage Inflicted: 3/4/5
Armor: 0
Movement: Flying: long, slithering: immediate
Modifications: A nest of 6–10 praithian war snakes uses the swarm rules. A nest attacks as level 5/6/7 GM Intrusion: A nest
(including the poison) and does double damage: 6/8/10. (A group of snakes is called a nest.) frenzies on one
Combat: Bite for 3/4/5 damage and the target must succeed on an Intellect defense roll or be dazed for character, attacking as
one round, during which time the difficulty of all tasks the target performs is modified by one step level 7/8/9 (including
to its detriment. poison), doing quadruple
Interaction: Praithian war snakes count as beasts. damage 12/16/20.
Use: While trekking through mountains under The Sun Below, the characters spot a pack of praithian
war snakes flying by.
Loot: Usually none, but sometimes the
bones of a past victim of the snakes
lie nearby, with perhaps a few
usable items and maybe even a
cypher.

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PYRONIC SENTRY 5 (15)

A pyronic sentry is a synthsteel- and glassteel-cladded automaton whose color changes to match the
flames it finds itself in. It looks like a massive armored man with long blades for hands.
Motive: Follow orders to guard a place or a thing.
Environment: Pyronic sentries are usually found near fires, lava pits, or other hellishly hot
GM Intrusion: The environments.
pyronic sentry teleports Damage Inflicted: 5 slashing and 5 heat.
an enemy who is at short Armor: 3 (100 vs. heat)
range or closer to just in Modifications: While being almost invulnerable to heat, cold attacks gain an asset and ignore armor. In
front of the automaton. fact, if a pyronic sentry is removed from a fiery environment and placed in a temperature
The sentry then attacks comfortable for a human, the automaton will become sluggish and have a one-level penalty on all
as level 7/8/9 with both its actions. Should one end up in a frigid environment, it would take a two-level penalty on all
bladed hands, doing actions and take one point of damage a turn until it shattered into pieces.
double damage and Combat: A pryonic sentry will follow its orders first, and worry about self-preservation second. Usually
dazing the foe for one
the orders do not require it to move to cooler locations.
round if it hits. The foe
Interaction: Pryonic sentries do not speak, but are telepaths.
will also take heat
Use: An arch-nano’s synthsteel tower rises out of a lava field. People say the arch-nano hasn’t been
damage from the
environment if the seen in years, but the pryonic sentry still stands guard, stopping good folk from taking valuable
pyronic sentry is in its items from a woman who surely doesn’t need them anymore.
usual searing environs. Loot: Once cool, the remains of a pryonic sentry can be salvaged for 1d6 cyphers and possibly an
oddity.
You teleport into the
flames and feel the
searing-hot bladed hands
of the automaton spike
deep into your body.
Your flesh sizzles like
meat on a spit.

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 City on the Edge

SLITHIKS
A slithik is a mound of green and black slime. Eight black tentacles sprout out of the slime, each ending
in bright blue metallic pincers. Erupting from the top of the slime is a black stalk, ending in a big black
sunflower-shaped face with two red eyes and a toothless slit for a mouth. When feeding, a clear tube
dripping with mucous slithers out of the mouth to drink blood.
Slithik are born engineers and tinkerers who are drawn to exploring ruins and attempting to find uses
for numenera.
Slithiks are at least as varied as humans, here are the types of slithiks found in this adventure.

Motive: Blood, numenera, a comfortable and interesting life.

Environment: Any environment that allows them cover from direct sun will do. Despite their plant-like
features, slithiks are shade loving. At the same time they need some light, so if they are found
underground they will have access to light.
Health: Named slithik: 9/12/12; unnamed slithik 2-hit mook (4/5/6)
Damage Inflicted: 3/4/5 Mook, page 4
Armor: 0/1/1
Movement: Short
Modifications: Slithiks with armor are surrounded by a glowing green nimbus.
Combat: In melee, the slithik uses a poisoned tentacle attack that causes a feeling of hollowness in any
wound. The target must succeed in a difficulty 3/4/5 Might test or lose 2/3/4 Intellect.
The ranged attack is a green and black brain fog ray
(short). It gives the target a splitting headache.
The target must succeed in an Intellect defense
check or lose 3/4/5 Intellect.
Interaction: Slithiks are good linguists, and in any
group of slithiks, at least one will be able to speak
the Truth.
Use: The characters come to a village in a ruin. A group
of slithiks stand in the shade, sipping blood from a
creature with their long, mucous-covered tubes. A
single slithik slithers out and greets the characters
in oddly formal Truth. “What brings you here, my
good mammal?”
Loot: Not only will free slithiks have 0-2 cyphers, they
will use them to defend themselves if they have
to. Many slithiks in this adventure are slaves, and
are unlikely to have acquired cyphers. They will
have praithian mind-control crystals.

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 The Sun Below

Motive: Protect fellow soldiers, follow orders, stay alive.

Mook, page 4 Environment: Ruins or other numenera-rich areas in the lands of The Sun Below. Unless a slithik nation
is at war, the soldiers are acting as guards, protecting a place or people important to slithiks.
Health: Named soldiers: 12/15/18; unnamed soldiers: 2-hit mooks (8/10/12)
Damage Inflicted: 7/8/9
Armor: Surrounded by a green nimbus for 1/2/3
Movement: Short
Modifications: Slithik soldiers fight in squads of 5–10. A squad attacks at level 6/7/8 and does double
GM Intrusion: The damage on all attacks.
soldier, or squad, gets an Combat: A single slithik soldier’s melee attack is a poisoned pincer that does 7/8/9 damage. On a
extra attack this round. successful hit, the poison requires a successful Might defense roll or the victim takes 4/5/6 Intellect
The attack is at +2 Levels damage.
and does double
The pincer stabs into you and suddenly the world starts spinning.
damage. It can be either
a poisoned-pincer attack The ranged attack is a green and black brain fog ray (short): requires a successful Intellect defense
or the brain fog ray. roll or the target loses 5/6/7 Intellect points.
A fog envelops your mind and everything seems so far away.
Interaction: This depends on the mission and how the nation or community that controls the soldiers
views non-slithiks. In some cases, a slithik city guard will happily provide local information and
rumors. In others, slithik soldiers might threaten the characters on sight, or even attack without
warning.
Use: A rival has hired slithik mercenaries to steal an artifact from the characters.
Loot: 2d6 shins. A poison sack with 1d6 doses of the pincer poison may be harvested from a dead
slithik, but that is considered desecration of the dead by other slithiks. All slave soldiers have a
praithian mind-control crystal embedded in their neck stalk.

Praithian mind-control
crystal, page 10 Motive: Complete the mission, advance the nation or community, protect their soldiers.
Environment: Anyplace slithiks are found.
Health: 18/21/24
Damage Inflicted: 8/9/10
Armor: Green nimbus for 3/4/5
Movement: Short
Modifications: A slithik captain will typically carry 1 – 2 useful cyphers, and perhaps an artifact as well.
Some slithik captains favor the slithik brain spike.
Combat: Slithik captains get 2 ranged or one melee attack per round. The poisoned pincer does 8/9/10
damage. On a successful hit, the poison requires a successful Might defense roll or the victim takes
6/7/8 Intellect damage.
The pincer stabs into you and suddenly the world starts spinning.
GM Intrusion: The slithik
Green and black brain fog ray (short): requires a successful Intellect defense roll or the target
captain pulls out a level
loses 7/8/9 Intellect points.
10 slithik brain spike and
fires twice at the same A fog envelops your mind and everything seems so far away.
target.
When grouped with other slithiks, the captains will tend to seek out opponents who are
attacking at range. Often they use their brain fog rays and ranged numenera weapons.
Interaction: Slithik captains who are not actively engaged in combat with the characters are likely to
Slithik brain spike, page
engage in parleys or simple conversation. If the characters engage soldiers in conversation, they
22
are often passed up to the local captain.
Use: An airship dock is controlled by slithik soldiers. Any who wish to use the docks must first impress
the local captain, who is very fond of numenera.
Loot: Tentacle band worth 1d6 * 10 shins. 0-2 cyphers. Possible artifact. All slave captains have a
praithian mind-control crystal embedded in their neck stalk.

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 City on the Edge

Motive: Experts in numenera, savants investigate relics of past worlds and advance their own interests. GM Intrusion: When the
Damage Inflicted: 4/5/6 savant is hit with a
Armor: 1/2/3 The armor is a glowing green force screen. numenera weapon or
Modifications: +2 levels in numenera lore. esotery, the savant turns
Combat: Slithik savants can either attack with their brain fog ray or with their poisoned tentacle. out to have a (slithik
The poisoned-tentacle attack causes a feeling of hollowness in any wound. The target must only) implant that
succeed in a difficulty 4/5/6 Might task or lose 3/4/5 Intellect. reflects the damage back
as Intellect damage and
The green and black brain fog ray (short) gives the target a splitting headache. The target must adds a level of difficulty
succeed in an Intellect Defense check or lose 4/5/6 Intellect. to all future defense rolls
Interaction: Savants are likely to know a number of languages, including the Truth. by the attacker for the
Loot: A slave savant would have a praithian mind-control crystal. A free savant would have 1d3 cyphers next hour.
and possibly an oddity. Savants prefer oddities that have artistic merit. The implant requires
another GM Intrusion to
work a second time.

Praithian mind-control
crystal, page 10

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 The Sun Below

Detonation (Psy) Page 10 Cypher

Hammer of the White Sun Page 37 Artifact
Healing Sphere Page 7 Artifact
Liquid Ceramosteel Armor Page 19 Artifact
Mind-Shield Bud Page 24 Artifact
Praithian Dream-Vapor Bowl Page 18 Cypher

Praithian Knight's Sword Hilt Page 53 Crafting

Praithian Mind-Control Crystal Page 10 Artifact
Slithik Brain Spike Page 22 Artifact

Spear of the Frozen Void Page 45 Artifact

The Dead King’s Eye Page 38 Artifact

See http://dreadunicorngames.com/games/city-on-the-edge/bonus-web-features-city-on-the-edge/ for bonus web features.

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Brian Rogers (order #6469782)
Brian Rogers (order #6469782)
 Dreadunicorngames.com

Brian Rogers (order #6469782)