The Lost Isle
[Rookie Entry]
“I have seen with my own eyes in this brief interval of time … things that no other mortal eye had seen before, glimpses of a world past, a world dead, a world so long dead that even in the lowest Cambrian stratum no trace of it remains. Fused with the melting inner crust, it has passed forever beyond the ken of man other than in that lost pocket of the earth whither fate has borne me and where my doom is sealed. I am here and here must remain.”
– Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Land That Time Forgot
Description:
Geography
The Lost Isle is, as far as islands go, rather small. Vaguely circular, the island stretches perhaps 30 miles in diameter. The most remarkable feature of the island, however, is not its size, but rather its geography. The outer reaches of the island are like any other tropical isle – sandy beaches, occasional rocky outcroppings, and blue lagoons. However, approximately a mile inland on all sides of the Island rises a cliff some 500 feet high. In most places, the sheer cliff prevents travel, though there are areas spread sporadically around the island where either a series of caves or a slightly less steep (though still dangerous) cliff allows passage to the interior of the island.
The cliffs themselves are actually rather wide (up to a half-mile in some locations), forming essentially a hollow plateau or mountain (and indeed the geography itself seems to indicate that the island is possibly a former volcano of immense proportions). The top of the cliff is windswept, so few plants (and fewer animals) manage to survive. Relatively flat, the tops of the ridge are ideal for seeing long distances, and on clear days one might be able to see for miles in any direction.
The interior of the Isle is the most diverse and complex. A tropical jungle, the climate is perpetually hot and humid, creating a miserable experience for those not accustomed to such an environment. This is especially true during the monsoon season, when the entire island is inundated with heavy rainfall that turns the various streams into torrential rivers. The trees here can reach up to 250 feet tall in some areas, though most of the trees form a canopy around 120 feet above the ground. Other than the giant trees, the rainforest area is full of smaller tree, ferns, flowers (both beautiful and in some cases deadly), and vines (of the living and non-living variety). The few major rivers, fed by hundreds of tiny tributaries, are deep and swift-moving, flowing toward the ocean through a natural eroded "tunnel" through the base of the plateau. The outflow of the river here has eroded enough of the outer ring of land that the sea essentially reaches all the way to the base of the cliff for miles in each direction.
Below the surface of the jungle, and throughout the plateau that surrounds the jungle basic, the earth is full of tunnels and caverns, most connecting (eventually) to a large central chamber. On the map below, the entrances connected by dotted lines indicate though that specifically connect the outer portion of the island to the jungle, boring through the plateau (indicated by the darker brown coloration).
The Isle is far removed from most major landmasses, and indeed no islands are present within a hundred miles. Reefs and shoals in the area indicate that it was possibly a former island chain, though is seems like these areas have been submerged for centuries and are eroded and covered with sea life. The reefs and shoals themselves are dangerous to ships, and indeed the waters around them teem with sharks, giant squids, and other dangerous creatures. The residents of the closest inhabited islands seem to have forgotten the island (perhaps their ancestors avoided the wrath of its former inhabitants, detailed below in “Secrets”), while the tides and weather keep out many other visitors.
Creatures
The majority of the fauna of the Isle is like that of most jungle islands. Thousands of insect and bird species abound, while large cats and apes prey on the smaller herbivores. However, the Lost Isle is also home to several creatures that are found nowhere else on the world, and are most likely holdovers from some lost age. Dinosaurs of various species rule the forest, and large, fierce ancestral versions of other animals pose a threat to any but the hardiest of explorers (see the Prehistoric Animal template below). Because of their size, though, there are very few true Prehistoric Animals, though Dire versions of various creatures abound.
Despite the apparent dangers, hidden in the north-central area of the island is a thriving (though small) civilization. The four races collectively known as the saurials, superficially an intelligent offshoot of the dinosaur species, have lived undisturbed here for centuries at least, developing magic and simple technology and living in peaceful coexistence with the flora and fauna (in general).
Prehistoric Animal [Template]
SpoilerPrehistoric animals are larger and fiercer than their modern versions, and they pose a great danger to those that encounter them.
Creating a Prehistoric Animal
Prehistoric animal is an inherited template that can be applied to any living, corporeal Animal (referred to hereafter as the base creature).
A prehistoric animal uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Size and Type: The creature gains the Prehistoric subtype (see below). The creature’s size increases by two size categories (to a maximum of Colossal) due to this subtype. The changes due to size are laid out on the chart below
Hit Dice: The creature’s hit dice increase to d12s due to its new Prehistoric subtype.
Initiative: The creature’s initiative may decrease due a possible decrease in Dexterity from its new size category (see chart below).
Speed: The creature’s speed increases by 20 feet (4 squares) for all movement modes.
Armor Class: The creature gets a size penalty to AC due to its size change, but its natural armor bonus increases due to its size change (see chart below), and it also gains a further +4 increase in natural armor. (A creature with no natural armor is treated as having a +0 natural armor bonus).
Base Attack/Grapple: Base Attack Bonus is unchanged. The creature’s grapple modifier increases to account for its new size category (see chart below).
Damage: The damage for creature’s natural weapons increases as on the chart below.
Space/Reach: The creature’s space and reach increase due to its new size.
Organization: Organization changes to Usually Solitary
Advancement: As base creature, but size increases due to HD advancement will change. For instance, a prehistoric hyena would normally change from Medium to Large at 4 HD. Instead, a 4 HD prehistoric hyena would be a Gargantuan creature (Medium increases to Huge because of the Prehistoric template, and a further increase of one category to Gargantuan at 4 HD). Size can never increase beyond Colossal.
Challenge Rating: 1-8 HD: +2 CR; 9+ HD: +3 CR
Table 1.1 - Changes to Statistics for Two-Size Increase:
{table=head] Old Size | New Size | Str | Dex | Con | Nat. Armor | AC/Attack
Fine | Tiny | +2 | -4 | Same | Same | -6
Diminutive | Small | +6 | -4 | Same | Same | -3
Tiny | Medium | +8 | -4 | Same | Same | -2
Small | Large | +12 | -4 | +2 | +2 | -2
Medium | Huge | +16 | -4 | +6 | +5 | -2
Large | Gargantuan | +16 | -2 | +8 | +7 | -3
Huge | Colossal | +16 | Same | +8 | +9 | -6
Gargantuan | Colossal | +8 | Same | +4 | +5 | -4[/table]
Table 1.2 – Changes to Natural Weapon Damage for a Two-Size Increase:
{table=head] Old [br] Damage | New [br] Damage
1d2 | 1d4
1d3 | 1d6
1d4 | 1d8
1d6 | 1d10
1d8 | 2d6
1d10 | 2d8
2d6 | 3d6
2d8 | 3d8[/table]
____________________
Prehistoric Sub-Type: A Prehistoric Animal is an animal in its ancient, larger, more powerful form. It retains most of the qualities of the Animal type, with the following exceptions.
- Hit die increases to d12 (instead of d8).
- Low-light vision, as well as darkvision to a range of 60 feet.
Sample: Prehistoric Ape
SpoilerPrehistoric Ape
Gargantuan Animal (Prehistoric)
Hit Dice: 4d12+27 (53 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares); climb 50 ft.
Armor Class: 18 (–4 size, +1 Dex, +11 natural), touch 7, flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+28
Attack: Claw +12 melee (2d6+13)
Full Attack: 2 Claws +12 melee (2d6+13) and bite +7 melee (2d6+6)
Space/Reach: 20 ft./20 ft.
Special Attacks: --
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +5, Will +2
Abilities: Str 37, Dex 13, Con 22, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7
Skills: Climb +22, Listen +6, Spot +6
Feats: Alertness, Toughness
Environment: Tropical jungles
Organization: Usually solitary
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 5-8 HD (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: --
The creature that crashes through the jungle foliage ahead towers above you, beating its chest and bearing its huge fangs. Its thick fur is matted and reeks of meals long ago lost to the tangles of hair, and it has a wild gleam in its eyes.
A prehistoric ape stands approximately 45 feet tall and weighs in at about 10 tons (or 20,000 pounds). These terrifying creatures are exceedingly rare, which is a good thing – as omnivores, they’re just as likely to eat a tree as they are a human.
Combat
A prehistoric ape fights with its claws and teeth, seeking to destroy any opponents with their massive strength. Rare specimens may replace the Alertness feat with Power Attack.
Skills: Prehistoric apes have a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened.
