Free Stone City

An outpost has grown around the humming stones.

Numbered Works No. 1,
November 2021.

A small, system-agnostic setting to drop into your RPG. Includes maps, random tables, encounters, and BEES.

MAP

1. HUT

A small A-frame structure, large enough to accommodate two humans.

• Bedding for two, wood stove‬.
• Packed dirt floor.
• Smells of earth and ash.
• A stone shard on a chain.

2. HALL

A large single-roomed building with a gable roof.

• Benches, long tables.
• Kitchen, small stage.
• Mortar and pestle, sieve.
• Dried fruits and meats in sacks.
• Clay idol. If smashed, precious gems spill out.

‪3. ZOME‬

A dome-like structure made up of irregular triangular panels. It has a patchwork appearance. Large enough to accommodate one dozen humans.

• Windows of coloured glass‬.
• 12 bed rolls, rugs, pillows.
• Smells of cloves, sweat, candles.
• Orb. May be pondered. Cannot be shattered. Unknown material.

4. STATION

A low, flat-roofed hut with two poles projecting from the roof. A rug is outside the door.

• Lightning rod.
• Steel signal mirror on roof, operated via pulleys inside.
• Dish filled with black sand. Shapes drawn in the sand with a finger appear in another dish in a distant location.

‪5. KEEPER’S HOME‬

The home is raised on stilts and has an L-shaped platform projecting from the front. There is a side door with a ramp.

• Sparsely furnished‬.
• Smells of smoke and honey.
• Clay pots of honey, mead, wax.
• Spare beekeeper suit.

6. WORKSHOP

The workshop has a sheltered doorway, a roof-mounted windmill, and a lean-to on one side for storage.

• Tools: mallet, machete, drill.
• Bee smoker fuel: dried leaves, pine needles.

‪7. BEE SHED‬

A ramshackle structure with holes in the walls, allowing bees access to the hives inside.

• Five bee hives‬ housing 1-5k bees, depending on season‬.
• Hives contain honey, wax.
• Scattered charms.

8. FRUIT TREES

• Leaves are heavy, fibrous.
• Fruit is large, tropical, multi-coloured. Smells of sherbet, tastes of lemon and rose.
• Seeds are fast growing, waxy, mildly toxic if eaten, deadly when concentrated.

9. THE STONES

• Warm, humming, they steam when it rains.
• Glow softly at night, colours change with the moon phase.
• Audio frequencies shift as you walk between the stones.
• See STONE EFFECTS table.

‪1d6 ENCOUNTERS‬

1. THE KEEPER wears a hood and mask. Kindly, curious. Wants to protect the bees.
2. BEES will attack if the hive is threatened but otherwise harmless. Fluffy, fist-sized.
3. SLOW BEASTS emerge from the outskirts to silently feed on fruit, sleep among Stones.
4. RESEARCHERS study The Stones using arcane tools.
5. DEVOTEES in red robes worship and chant in tune with The Stones. Moon-eyed.
6. BANDITS gather at The Stones to heal fresh wounds. Wary, hungry, pursued.

2d6 HAPPENINGS

2. A golden haze.
3. Thunderstorm.
4. Unfamiliar birdsong.
5. A message in the sand.
6. Bats fly overhead.
7. Sudden sun shower.
8. Aurora.
9. Distant droning.
10. Sweet smelling smoke.
11. Bells.
12. Ominous horns.

2d6 STONE EFFECTS

May be triggered by tampering, chanting, striking, rites, etc.

2. The Stones disappear with a groan and blinding light, leaving great holes behind. May or may not return.
3. The volume of the hum increases and all creatures in the vicinity fall asleep.
4. The Stones become hot. A touch will badly burn.
5. All metal objects are drawn toward The Stones.
6. Gravity is weakened among The Stones.
7. Minor earthquake. A hive is damaged.
8. The Stones vibrate. The bees leave their hives. The Keeper is distraught.
9. The Stones acquire a perfect mirror finish.
10. The hum increases in pitch. All Devotees and chanters disappear.
11. The Stones shrink until the largest is the size of an egg. Huge cavities left behind. May or may not return to original size.
12. The Stones glow red hot. Buildings burn. The Stones sink into the earth, leaving smouldering pits.