Lands Perilous: The Island of Lys

[Choinski, Burt]

The island of Lys [Clima-334] is a small volcanic island along the
climan chain.  It is not populated and fairly barren -- that last
eruption 23 years ago covered it with ash and lava and even now only
taller grasses have reclaimed the slopes.

There are several shallow coves that make excellent mooring places for
ships, and there are at least 3 that are nearly invisible from the
ocean, making them great spots for pirates to lie awaiting or make
repairs.

The Caldera is about 10 hours of hard overland travel and rises about
1,340 feet above the sea.  The only possible encounters here are with
Earth or Fire elementals and those creatures that can withstand high
heat or fire.  The Caldera itself is plugged, with only a few cracks in
the rock where hot gas and steam shrieks out (nearly deafening at the
top, from the sea it is heard as a low variable roar).  The environment
on the plug is quite hostile (all characters loose 1 energy point per
minute exploring the Caldera -- at 0EP they collapse from gas inhalation
and start to perish, losing 1HP per minute.  Once removed from the area
they will recover 1d6 EP per hour.)

Along the north-east face of the volcano is a small lava-tunnel.  The
environment here is similar to that of the Caladra top.  Every 5 minutes
an Average Underground Survival task must be made to go forward -- at
least 3 successful rolls must be made to reach the end (take EP damage
as above).

NOTE: Any sort of spell that provides protection from heat can be cast
at TRIPLE cost to provide protection from heat and these dangerous
gases.

The tube leads to a small blockage which can be removed in a few minutes
(roll total SB in d6 for "damage", must do 50 points to remove blockage
for a man-sized hole.  Maces and clubs allow full damage, the use of
other rocks cuts damage done in half.

Once through, you will be inside the Volcano, below the rock plug.  It
is VERY hot and some sort of heat protection is needed.  A set of
obsidian stairs leads down to the lava pool, into a patch that is
especially bright.  Following the steps down and into the patch will
lead the characters under the lava and out of a waterfall of flame, onto
the elemental plane of fire.  Walking back into the "waterfall" will
lead you back to the steps.

NOTE: This route is EXCEEDINGLY hazardous and protection from heat and
fire is required to survive.
---------------------------------------------------------
Burton Choinski, Peritus Software Services Inc.
bchoinski at peritus.com