[Thundarr Friday] Dangerous Encounter: Attack of the Amazon Women

While riding along a cliffside along a sea coast, the PCs will hear the blasts of lasers as a nearby firefight ensues. If they investigate, they'll see two blue-skinned women in robes with shields and tridents being fired upon by four other blue-skinned warrior women armed with laser rifles. One of the laser-armed women shouts to the ones who are pinned down: "Surrender Deona! Rejoin our Amazon army! Queen Stryia will be merciful!" "She is a WIZARD!" Deona shouts back. "She shows no mercy!" The laser-weilders begin firing again at the rebels. If the PCs have any sense of fair play (and if they are "anti-wizard" as all good characters in the Thundarr universe should be), they should help the outgunned rebels.


Amazon Women (4) (AL C, MV 120’ (40’), AC 7, HD 8, #AT 1 (laser rifle), DG 6d6, SV L4, ML 7, mutations: water breathing)

When the battle has turned, the leader shouts for retreat. All of the Amazons will dive into the water, swimming away on giant sharks that have been waiting nearby. Deona thanks the PCs and offers them food and shelter in a nearby hidden cave where she and her rebel Amazon band have taken refuge. She explains that she was once Queen of the Amazons - a race of aquatic water-breathing warriors - until the Wizardess Stryia conquered her underwater domain. "Now Stryia is building an army with which to strike on land as well as at sea!" From her hidden base, Deona has been striking against Stryia, weakening the wizard's defenses. Impressed with the PC's fighting prowess, she asks them to accompany her on a raid on Stryia's underwater base. "Stryia has located an Ancient secret weapon! We must seize it before she can use it against the surface world!" she warns. She offers all of the PCs the use of a set of Aquagills (which they'll be allowed to keep) for this mission.

While swimming to the location of the secret weapon, the party will be spotted by one of Stryia's patrols. They contact Stria who informs them to release the Fraeken - a monstrous squid-like creature trained to protect the area. The Fraeken will attack the party, firing an energy ray at them first before moving in to try to grasp and crush any PC is can get near.

Fraeken (1) (AL N, MV Swim: 90' (30'), AC 7, HD 9, #AT 8 or 1 (tentacles or energy ray), DG 1d4 per tentacle or 4d6 per energy ray, SV L4, ML 7, mutations: energy ray)

Once the Fraeken is dealt with (or it scampers away), Deona will lead the party to a submerged Ancient air force base. (If the party has been getting away relatively unscathed, toss in an underwater Amazon patrol attack to keep them on their toes. If they've been taking a beating, let them get to the air base after the Fraeken attack.) One of the buildings, an Ancient airplane hanger, has a thick crust of barnacles that have kept it undamaged over the centuries. An airlock leads within. Once the party is inside, they'll see the secret weapon Stryia plans to use - a large combat missle that could level a city! As the party approaches the missle, three Giant Black Widow Spiders descend from the ceiling and attack the party! The bite is deadly (death after 1 turn unless a save versus poison is made).

Giant Black Widow (3) (AL N, MV 60' (20'); Web 120' (40'), AC 6, HD 3, #AT 1, DG 2d6/poison (class 12), SV L2, ML 8, mutations: gigantism)

After the spiders are dealt with, the PCs will hear a shrill laugh coming from within the missle. The nosecone drops off and there stands Queen Stryia! The missle was Trojan Horse - a hollow case in order to lure Deona into her trap for a final battle! Stryia is an 8th level wizard and will not stop until Deona and the PCs are defeated, or she is destroyed! If there are any sorcerers in the party, she will single them out first, trying to incapaciate them first. (And if the PCs are still a viable threat, have a small regiment of Amazons file out of the missle behind Stryia for support.)

Once Stryia has been defeated, Deona reclaims her rightful place as Queen of the Amazons. The PCs have made a very strong ally that they may call on one day. Queen Deona may also reward the PCs with something from her kingdom if the Mutant Lord so wishes.

NOTE: This adventure and its creatures were inspired by the episode "Attack of the Amazon Women" from the classic Ruby-Spears post-apocalyptic cartoon "Thundarr the Barbarian." Obviously some liberties needed to be taken with the original episode's plotline, but I tried to stay as true as I could to the feel of the show. Stay tuned each week for "Thundarr Thursday!"