Rift Walker Luminvale Campaign Overview & Thoughts (13-14) + Free Adventure
Generated Map for sessions 13/14 of Rift Walker
Session 13 – Exploration of Subterranova
The gang decided to explore the hidden rooms of Subterranova, as Socko had learnt from his mother that the Kavern Kin have been acting weirdly and the strange folks of Subterranova have been coming out further and further these days. They first travelled through the Caves of Wonder, where Socko is from, having been given a secret map of Subterranova form Socko’s mum. Had some chats with some Ant-folks and saw the Kavern Kin freaking out – some bear bats people were trying to communicate with the group and got through to them that they needed to get away from Subterranova. After moving on they took to the front gate entrance to the city where they convinced the guards they were travelling performers with DJs help and Socko’s deception. Moving through the city in the east wing, they found out the people there wear weir futuristic clothing, with surfer-dude paraphernalia. They were all commanded by a big computer named Big Dawg 6900 who was seeking maximum chillness. They set out about weird quests in this mission. On the way the group found a small boy who had never seen the ocean, and Barnaby told him of the sea, and gave him his ship-in-a-bottle. On their way, they heard that Sector 9 was strictly forbidden, and realised that was where the villain lived. They met with other weird people, but finally happened upon a group of Kavern Kin being electro-shocked with weapons and tortured. The group pushed into action on the cliff-hanger.
Session 14 – Big Dawg 6900 Chills Out
Through some careful deception from Socko, they let the Kavern Kin (moth people) free by convincing the guards that they were taking over the exercise. DJ then used their screwdriver set to set them free and they briefly spoke to them. Being a part of their weird ritual of being covered in dust. They moved southward through the futuristic bunker to get to a lunch room with many of these surfer guards in there. The group leaned into their deception, by DJ starting to play a magnificent DJ set. Barnaby acted as hype man, by ripping muscle poses, while Socko took to working the crowd for information. From there he knew he had to face the mega computer. He snuck out and saw that it was cruel and singular minded to its own people. He controlled some guards to get help, while the computer fought back. Barnaby ran in and started to morale damage the computer, and Socko buffed the fighter. Poor sock had his zombie legs broken in the encounter while DJ stayed in the set and kept the guards busy. The Kavern Kin joined in the battle and ultimately the computer was shut down, after causing enough chaos, the group decided to leave Subterranova for a while!
Session Thoughts
The campaign so far has been different with one less party member. The dynamic is a little quicker and needs time for the players to get used to playing without the Sally character. I decided I wanted to run things a little differently with this session, having each of the rooms randomly generate what was happening in there with a d66 roll. Having the PCs make the roll added to engagement and overall allowed me to flex my improvisation muscles. I really liked that! Below, I have included the map from Donjon I generated, my tables and description of Key NPCs. I have kept it system neutral for you play at home!
Mystery of Subterranova
THEME
The overall theme is that of the TTRPG Paranoia but with surfer dude culture slapped on top for weirdness. Think futuristic sci-fi “perfect harmony” but actually utter chaos as the machine has gone insane and not giving orders very well. The missions that are given to the people who live here are often contradictory and pointless in nature, giving everyone a weird sense of meaninglessness in their lives.
Tools: https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/the-dictionary-of-bro-isms-and-bro-related-words#google_vignette Bro-isms and useful language.
SUBTERRANOVA
There are Star Trek style beige corridors with “wooshing” electric doors. There is a speaker set in every room so the computer can talk through the walls, and an electric strip of led lining around the rooms that sends messages of vague “peaceful” platitudes.
Entrances
There are two entrances, on the left is main gate with a set of guards looking for the password (any chill bro language will do); and the side entrance where supplies are brought in that requires a might check to break through the door unless they have a key-card (any guard will have one).
Lunch Quarters
One room of your choice on the map is a lunch quarters where they serve gruel to the people, sitting to chat about their meaningless existence. There are long tables and a small stage where the computer can send messages through the speakers, and people can give announcements.
Sector 9
Is strictly forbidden unless requested. This is where Big Dawg 6900 sits. In this room is large monitor, with a passage behind with its electronics that can be repaired (or messed with). There is a terminal in the centre of the room. In here Big Dawg has complete control. The roof drops electrifying clamps; the floor opens to bottomless pits; the lighting and sound can be distorted etc. Some pillars are by the entrance holding the room up, that can be hidden behind. Around the back you can find some chips for different settings of Big Dawg 6900: paranoid, motherly, corrupt and clowns?
REASONS FOR PCS TO ADVENTURE
1. Want to explore the subterranean world
2. Want to get access to futuristic technology
3. Want to find the secrets of the weird Subterrnova people
NPCS
Big Dawg 6900
An omni computer of gigantic proportions. Its sentience is based on surfer dude logic, seeking maximum chillness and “serenity”. It has gone a little crazy in the many generations of looking after the people who live here and sends pointless missions for them. It hates the neighbouring Kavern Kin (strange cave animal-human hybrids) that live in the surrounding caves, as they are animalistic and strange.
Stats
Huge endurance as it is a machine, huge will power as it is very intelligent
Can give a boon to foes to move, order more to come in or get them to jack themselves into the computer terminal to sacrifice themselves to it, give it hp back
CHILL: social check else 5 social damage speed halved for people and condition, half movement
Ride the waves, water fills up in here and gale force winds might save
Zappy roof – “alright time to stop being a buzz kill” 8 end damage on failed speed check
Mind save else see a cool beach and lose one action next turn
Cool Folks Problem Solvers
They wear future bike helmets, have red sashes and carry stun sticks on their belt and red boards on their back- they love the computer (or else) Stats for a surfer dude. Their usual gesture of good will is shakkas.
Mook level stats
Laser stick 6 damage blast or hit, bro related burn 6 social, bro related fake saying 6 mind - can ride the waves, protect in a firefight and stun people
Kavern Kin
Come in many forms and are usually peaceful and reclusive, but have been messed with by the computer so are erratic unless spoken to calmly.
Forms:
Bear Bats
Moth people
Beetle men
Worm ladies
Suckers
Mook level stats with improvised modifications based on creature type.
D66 Tables for room contents (roll randomly on entry):
D6 table of conflicting missions happening
1. One is searching for 38 quarter inch jack cables that are 6 and 5/8 of an inch longer than the last - said it’d give me a rad beach party
2. Two are out documenting the effects on Kavern Kin by stunning them over and over with their stun gun, they need to run 420 experiments - said I’d be upgraded to totally gnarly status
3. One is trying to stun a troublesome cable jacker - doesn’t want to a total failure bummer
4. One is put setting up plans to build an indoor surfing wave machine, of only these troublesome kavern kin would move out of the way - said like totally no rush
5. One is putting up pornagraphic pin ups
6. One is taking down the pornagraphic pin ups
D6 environmental effects
1. The sound of beach music plays but with a bit of 80s synths in there
2. A spray of ocean mist comes out of the walls
3. A robot with sunglasses with a large swinging axe rounds the corner saying “the weather blows”
4. Bright light like a sun rays down so that it gets mega bright with a voice saying 10 minus of sunlight a day is good for you
5. A wet floor sign pops up after a puddle is nearly slipped on, saying “are you ok brah?”
6. A big hostile sign saying if you think someone isn’t chill report them to sector 9
D6 weird npcs
1. Two clones arguing with each other about who should be sent to the termination booth
2. A robot is turned upside down in the shape of a turtle, with a lazer strapped to its back
3. A larger lady is dragging a corpse behind her back saying she these two weren’t chill.
4. A person is going around saying that the computer has lost its mind and then someone comes from behind and caves his head in
5. A little kid is drawing a picture of the ocean saying he has never seen it as a draws a blue square with a pair of sunglasses on a sun in the sky, with a totem necklace that is totally cultural appropriation - spreyyy
6. A group of people are playing discs with each other an obscure game of betting
D6 Kavern kin encounters being tested
1. A beetle snake is being shown a video of the ocean n repeat
2. A moth is being held out of reach of a light source
3. A lizard is being splashed with cold water a lot
4. A cavefish man is held half in water half out
5. A glow worm is being tickled a lot
6. A spider lady is being held next to a hot fire so they sweat and scream
D6 Computer’s quotes
1. Computer shouts “I hope everyone has a radical day, remember chill the fuck out”
2. Today is the day to achieve greatness, which is what the wind tells you (through me)
3. Keep out of sector 9 as it’s not gnarly there
4. Having a hard day, think about Kelly slater before he tackled the 12 footer
5. Stress less my dudes and dudettes, or else
6. Obnoxious sounds of the ocean with it homing over the top
D6 Neon signs messages that scroll
1. What is your duty today?
2. Don’t be paranoid, be aware
3. 896753465894
4. Sector 9 is not lit
5. Protect the vibe
6. Collect data and keep things gnarly
