Escape from the Jade Colossus by Bruce R. Cordell is a role playing game supplement published by Monte Cook Games for use with Numenera and Cypher System.
The supplement is available as a 30-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $4.99 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. One page is the front cover, one page is the Table of Contents and front matter and one page is for GM’s Notes.
The Introduction explains that either existing characters or the pre-gens can be used. The Background then explains how, five years ago, an ancient installation, now known as the Jade Colossus, rose from the ground causing a lot of damage to the city of Ballarad in Navarene as a result. Since then, many explorers have ventured inside the Colossus; many have not returned. The adventure was developed from material in Jade Colossus: Ruins of the Ninth World.
The Synopsis explains that the characters venture into the Colossus for a sample of a fungus that can be used to stop a disease currently spreading through the city. When the adventure begins, the sample has already been collected and the characters are heading out when an earthquake collapses the exit. The NPC they are escorting becomes a problem, as one of his two pets is trapped on the other side and he becomes more concerned with its fate. Following this are details on the NPC and preparing for the adventure, as well as on introducing the Cypher System.
Beginning the Scenario has the characters’ passage hit by the earthquake. They must then retrace their steps and try and find a new way out. The areas are mapped, and not very safe, and there are some details on pacing for convention play.
After the rooms are described is something called the Limited Mapping Engine, derived from the Numenera Ruin Mapping Engine in Jade Colossus: Ruins of the Ninth World. This is a short series of mapping and content tables for fleshing out ruins. There is a new item followed by details on wrapping up the adventure, then a new monster.
The final 12 pages of the supplement are six pre-generated characters.
Escape from the Jade Colossus in Review
The PDF is well bookmarked with major and minor sections linked. The Table of Contents only covers the major sections and is hyperlinked. Navigation is good. The text maintains a two columns with sidebar colour format and appeared to be free of errors. The sidebars are used for references, stats and GM intrusions. There are a number of colour illustrations, as well as the map, which may be custom. Presentation is good.
Though this adventure isn’t stated as being directly aimed at convention play, as many are, it is clearly better designed for that than campaign play. Beginning an adventure partway in is more acceptable in a convention game than it is in regular play; players may not be happy with this. There are a lot of GM intrusions in the Colossus, but it’s stated they are not all intended to be used; fortunate, as perhaps the majority of rooms have one. The mapping engine is interesting, but mostly serves as a taster for the full thing. The primary monster is rather disturbing and potentially very dangerous, but the NPC is an absolute pain. Anyone familiar with video game escort missions will likely quickly end up with the desire to throttle them. Escape from the Jade Colossus isn’t a bad adventure, but it seems a bit limited and will require work to integrate into a campaign, and it can be found by clicking here.
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