THE FROG GOD’S DAUGHTER

Playtesters: Kenny Yeung and Ryan Turner 

Reader: Adam Baulderstone 

 

This is a short Strange Tales of Songling scenario, intended for a party of 2-4 players, with level 4-7 characters. It is set up so that there isn’t an overarching path or plot, and there is no series of clues to follow (the PCs can get all the basic information at the start for the most part). It is mainly about how the players choose to engage the situation unfolding in and around a small village. Brevity was prioritized to keep the scenario easy to read during play. The GM should be prepared to play NPCs and ad-lib details on the fly as needed. 

This adventure was inspired by the story The Frog Deity, in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio by Pu Sonlgling. I encourage GMs to read it if they can. I tried to take the inspiration in a more horror-oriented direction suitable for an adventure at the table, but in the original story the drama is much more domestic and subdued. One aspect I find entertaining about the story is the scholar’s reckless obstinacy towards his frog deity father-in-law, risking catastrophic consequences to win what is essentially a spat between him and his wife (who is the gods daughter). I tried to retain that element with the characterization of the villagers. 

Be sure to check out last week's halloween adventure, The Bride of Liao Manor. 

 

ADJUSTING TO PARTY LEVEL

For higher-level parties you can make the scenario more challenging by having Feng Hua’s two children return and assist him. If you want to make the adventure easier don’t roll Survival or random encounters (a random encounter with a bear can be incredibly lethal, for example). 

Art by Jackie Musto

 

HOOK

The players hear rumors of disappearances in Kun Ji village. When they arrive, they see Yuwen Manor is burned to the ground and learn that for the past two months villagers have been disappearing in the nearby woods where they often to gather nuts from wax trees to make candles and dye. Because the nuts in the orchards nearby the village have been rotting, this has forced them to venture deeper into the woods. The villagers ask for the player’s help in dealing with the angry frog deity they believe is taking revenge for events that happened at Yuwen Manor (see BACKGROUND). 

 

SYNOPSIS 

The players come to Kun Ji village where they look into recent disappearances and quickly learn that an angry frog god, Hua Feng, is eating the locals as retribution for the death of his daughter and son-in-law. The god continues devouring villagers threatening to eat more if the killer isn’t brought to justice. The Swordsman who is responsible for the deaths is hiding in a nearby monastery (where he discovered a talisman that may help him subdue Hua Feng). The players can choose to hunt and destroy Hua Feng on their own, listen to the god’s demand (and potentially save those trapped in its belly), join with or go after the demon hunter or take any number of approaches they wish. 

 

BACKGROUND

A scholar, Yuwen Chen, who just passed the exams and was about to receive his first post, offended the frog god at Hue Feng Temple. The frog god sent his daughter, Hua Mu, to see the scholar and demand compensation. She found Yuwen Chen handsome and decided to marry him, knowing her father would find the scholar a worthy son-in-law. Yuwen Chen was already married to a woman named Yin Shanlin but was convinced by the Frog God’s daughter to divorce his wife. Yuwen Chen and Hua Mu married and lived happily until her presence in the town led to an overabundance of frogs. The creatures began bubbling up all over, appearing in in bowls, beds, basins and creating a nuisance. Knowing Hua Mu’s true nature, Yin Shanling stirred up anger and convinced the people of their village that the new bride was a demon. They hired a demon hunter, Swordsman Shi, to kill her and the scholar. He ended up locking them both in Yuwen Manor and setting it ablaze. Now the Frog God, Hua Feng, angry over the death of his daughter and son-in-law devours villagers and keeps them in his belly till he gets his justice. Should a year pass with no resolution those he ate will be transformed into Frog Spirits. 

 

ENTERING THE VILLAGE AND RUNNING THE ADVENTURE 

This adventure is one where the players show up in the village and will quickly learn the basic facts of what happened. They should be able to engage the situation however they wish, and the GM should freely control the NPCs and creatures in ways that move the adventure forward. Generally, the only secret, which is known to Yin Shanlin, is that the Swordsman Shi is hiding at Black Tree Monastery. Other than that, everyone is forthcoming. The town is divided over what happened at Yuwen Manor, but everyone is open about the basic events. First night in village players can have a dream of the Frog God expressing his anger over the death of his daughter and desire for justice. 

 

Hua Feng has a very clear sense of what he wants to obtain justice. The most important thing is the head of Swordsman Shi. But if the players can propose other solutions, such as resurrecting his daughter and son-in-law, he would be appeased. See his entry for details. If he meets the party or appears in their dreams, he is likely to say things like “Bring the head Swordsman Shi to my shrine”. 

 

If you want the adventure to flow faster or if you want to reduce the difficulty you can ignore the Survival Rolls for traveling through the region and rely more on fiat encounters. Be sure to use the map below. 

 

Use Hua Feng’s Frog Swarm and Abundance abilities creatively to create atmosphere and interesting situations. He is a god and will use his powers to manipulate foes into doing his bidding. The players may see fruit on trees decay suddenly or overflow with bugs and maggots, their blankets turn into frogs at night, etc. 

 

Read through all the entries below at least twice so you can respond to what the players do as the adventure unfolds. Remember that the NPCs and monsters are active participants in the scenario. 

 

ENCOUNTERS IN THE REGION

If you use encounters, have players make Survival rolls every hour of travel. Use the TNs on the map for encounters every hour and roll on the following tables based on region: 

 

HUO PEAK

Roll 1d10            Result

1-2                      Bears*

3-5                      Small Falling Hazard (Athletics TN 6 or 1d10 damage)

6-7                      Large Falling Hazard (Athletics TN 6 or 2d10 damage)

8                         Obstruction

9-10                    Swordsman Shi

 

BLACK TREE FOREST 

Roll 1d10            Result

1-4                      Wolves 1d10 halved**

5                          Bear*

6-10                    Hua Feng (See HUA FENG TEMPLE)

 

HUANTED WOODS

Roll 1d10            Result

1                         Tiger

2-3                      Tiger Minion Ghost 

4-7                      Wolves 1d10 halved**

8-9                      Bear* 

7-10                    Guan Yang (See THE HAUNTED WOODS OF YANG MANOR) 

 

*Treat as Bears of Intelligence, page 59 of STRANGE TALES OF SONGLING, but treat Wits as 3

**Roll 1d10 and divide result in two for the number of wolves. Use Dog Spirit Stats on page 47 of STRANGE TALES OF SONGLING but treat Wits as 3 and remove their powers. 

KUN JI VILLAGE

Authority: Magistrate Ta of Pianyuan County Seat 

County: Pianyuan County  

Leadership: Headman Wang Xue (elected for year by magistrate Ta); 7 Stalwart men selected from among the villagers 

Exports: Lamps, candles, Wax-Tree Oil, dye, lacquer 

Common Surnames: Wang, Hu, Yin and Yuwen

Population: 250

 

This is a small village known for its quality candles, lacquer and dye, which it exports to the town of Pianyuan. They organize teams of 8-16 people to gather wax tree nuts in the forest regularly. The people of this town were fomented against Scholar Chen and his wife, Hua Mu by Yin Shanlin. They worked with Swordsman Shi to lock them in their abode and burn it to the ground, killing the couple (See BLACK TREE MONASTERY). The locals believe they were under threat by a frog spirit and now that folks have started to go missing, they are worried the Frog God of Hua Feng Temple is getting revenge. All the villagers who have gone missing were taken while in the woods gathering black wax tree nuts. One villager, Hu Yuanchen, saw Yin Ze get eaten in the woods by a giant bronze frog. The villagers all know the local geography, including the location of the alchemist Guan Yang in the Haunted Forest of Yang Manor (they regard him as a magician), the location of Black Tree Monastery (though only Yin Shanlin knows that Swordsman Shi is staying there), and the location of Hua Feng temple (though they rarely go there). 

 

Yuwen Chen and Hua Mu are both buried just outside the village. 

 

Missing Villagers (F=Female, M=Male): Hu Tai, M (two months ago); Wang Yuyan, F (One month ago); Yin Zi, F (two weeks ago); Yin Nansheng, F (two weeks ago); Wang Yuan, M (one week ago), Yuwen Qi, F (today)

 

The villagers are divided over what to do: some want to hand Swordsman Shi to the frog god or present his head at an offering at Hua Feng temple, others want to pay the swordsman to finish off the frog god. Everyone is certain their course of action is the just and right way to proceed. 

 

Villagers of Note:

 

Wang Xue: The leader of the village, selected by Magistrate Ta. Wang Xue is concerned they may have committed a grave act when they invited Swordsman Shi to deal with Hua Mu. His priority is the protection of the village, so he is willing to help the PCs with information or the assistance of his stalwart men. Wang Yue knows that Guan Yang, who resides nearby, is a powerful sorcerer. 

 

Hu Yuanchen: A local lamp artisan, Hu Yuanchen was helping gather black wax tree nuts two weeks ago when he saw Yin Zi get eaten by the giant bronze frog. He made offerings to Hua Feng but the offerings turned into maggots. He knows Guan Yang and is aware he can raise the dead. 

 

Yin Shanlin: This is the ex-wife of Yuwen Chen. Of all the villagers, she is most obstinate in her defiance of the frog god. She set the village against her former husband and his new wife, Hua Mu, because of the humiliation caused by their sudden divorce. She was the one who sent for Swordsman Shi and she also knows that he is presently in the Black Tree Monastery. She brings him supplies periodically but has not succeeded in convincing him to return to the village to deal with the present threat. Each week Swordsman Shi gives her a paper talisman that makes her invisible to the frog god. She is beginning to see Swordsman Shi as a potential husband. 

 

VILLAGE STALWART MEN (7)

These are local men from a range of professions selected to serve Wang Xu as needed. They help maintain order and protect the village. 

 

Defenses: Hardiness 6, Evade 5, Wits 6

Key Skills: Arm Strike: 1d10 (1d10 Damage), Melee: 1d10, Detect: 1d10, Speed: 1d10, Muscle: 2d10

 

Max Wounds: 2

Equipment: Cudgels (3d10 Damage)

 

BLACK TREE MONASTERY 

This is a ruined monastery with just a handful of halls that remain standing. It is abandoned. One of the buildings was an old dormitory for the monks and is where Swordsman Shi is camping. The other is an old library containing a stone seal that can be used to bind a spirit, demon or god to a particular place. The only problem is it is currently being used to bind another creature, so Swordsman Shi is debating whether to remove it from place or not.  

 

SHI ZHANHAO (SWORDSMAN SHI)

Brash and hot tempered, Swordsman Shi lives to kill demons and spirits. His sisters, Sha and Zhen were both eaten by a Spirited Bear. He slayed the bear that killed them and wears its hide as a robe. Recently he was hired by Kun Ji Village to kill the frog spirit, Hua Mu. In the chaos he killed both her and her husband. 

 

Swordsman Shi knows about the Frog God coming to terrorize the village. He is taking his time deciding whether to bring the black tree seal to contend with him. He is formulating a plan to use the seal against Hua Feng. Ultimately, he will choose to leave the seal in place, but can be persuaded to change his mind. He has no remorse for killing Hua Mu or her husband, believing Yuwen Chen got what he deserved for marrying a Frog spirit. He has grown fond of Yin Shanlin and gives her paper talismans of invisibility to protect her. 

 

Defenses: Hardiness 5, Evade 5, Wits 7

Key Skills: Arm Strike: 2d10, Melee: 2d10, Ranged: 2d10, Survival: 2d10, Ritual: 3d10, Theft: 1d10, Trade: 1d10, Muscle: 3d10, Command: 1d10, Creatures: 2d10, Religion: 1d10

 

Path: Demon Hunter

Level: 7

Max Wounds: 2

Equipment: Spirited Bear Robe, Sword, Curing Pills (2)

 

Kung Fu/Magic: Flight of the Sword, Neck Cleaving Strike, Paper Talisman of Invisibility, Exploding Talisman, Paper Talisman of Demon Warding 

 

Spirited Bear Robe: This robe protects Swordsman Shi. It takes two consecutive damage rolls to harm him while he is wearing it. 

 

Paper Talisman of Invisibility: You make a paper talisman that makes you invisible to a category of monster (i.e. Fish Demons, Frog Spirits, etc). It takes 2 hours to make using a Ritual Roll. On a Success it can be placed on a person and they will be invisible to creatures of that type. It only lasts one week, and you can only wear one such talisman at a time. 

 

THE BLACK TREE SEAL

This stone seal has numerous strange characters on it and is fitted amid the bricks lining the floor of the library hall. It can keep any creature bound to a place so long as the being is within the parameters of the location in question when it is put in place and someone makes a Ritual roll against the wits of the creature. Because it is currently being used to suppress another entity, if it is removed, the imprisoned being escapes. Roll on the following table to see what kind of creature is being imprisoned by the seal: 

Roll 1d10  Result

1               Hungry Fox Spirit

2               Invisible Ghost

3               Hellbound Beast Skin

4               Jiangshi

5               Mountain Troll Spirit 

6               Yaksha Demon 

7               Spider Demon 

8               Spirited Tiger

9               Punishing Fox Spirit 

10             Dormant Beast  

 

The monks of the temple are all dead save one. You can make a backstory on the fly based on the random result that makes sense.

 

THE HAUNTED WOODS OF YANG MANOR 

This forest of tall poplar trees, growing as high as 60 meters, is famous for a prowling beast that feasts on human flesh. At the center of the woods is the old manor of Guan Yang a powerful alchemist seeking immortality in seclusion. In truth, Yang is the beast that hunts these woods, the product of an elixir that bestowed longevity by dividing his soul. However, he is capable of resurrecting people from the dead so could help the party if they seek him.

 

When anyone enters the woods, there is a 1 in 10 chance Guan Yang is hunting them in his Forest Troll form. 

 

GUAN YANG 

Guan Yang is an alchemist seeking immortality, but also a skilled physician with friendly disposition. In addition to seeking immortality himself, he has been conducting experiments to extend and enhance the lives of others. If the players explain the situation, he can use his rejuvenation elixir and Petition the King of Hell Ritual to restore the couple to life. He is almost 200 years old but looks no older than fifty. He suffers from a strange condition caused by one of his elixirs. Seemingly at random, he changes into a Mountain Troll that feeds on human meat. Every 2 hours there is a 1 in 10 chance that he transforms for 3 hours into this being. If he eats human meat, he can forgo this transformation for a full 2 days. 

 

Guan Yang conceals his condition from people to the point of recklessness. Should he transform in the presence of others, he will take the one moment of clarity before the change starts to warn people to run away. 

 

He has a bottle of Guan Yang’s Rejuvenation Elixir prepared and it was made successfully. This can be paired with his Petition the Hell King spell to truly raise someone from the dead. 

 

Defenses: Hardiness 3, Evade 4, Wits 8

Key Skills: Arm Strike: 0d10, Medicine: 3d10, Divination: 1d10, Alchemy: 3d10, Ritual: 3d10, Command: 2d10, Persuade: 2d10, Reasoning: 1d10, Creatures: 1d10, Read Script: 1d10

 

Path: Ritual Master 

Level: 10

Max Wounds: 1

Rituals: Demon and Spirit Powder, False Coins, Food Protection, Rotting Death, Forgetting Fog, Find, Invisibility Talisman, Spiritual Defense, Summon Spirited Beast, Petition to the King of Hell

Substances: Guan Yang’s Rejuvenation Elixir, Perfect Longevity Elixir

 

Guan Yang’s Rejuvenation Elixir (Level Requirement: 8): This requires an Alchemy TN 8 roll to make and takes a full year to produce. On a Success, it creates an oil that can restore the dead for ten days if it is applied to their bones. On a Failure, it creates a substance that causes the dead to rise up as Jiangshi. There is enough in one elixir for two bodies.

 

Perfect Longevity (Level Requirement 4): This is a very good longevity substance but it has a potential side effect. Each use can add years to a person’s life but when you make it there is no way of knowing how successful it was till it is drunk. It is TN 8 to make, on a Success, it adds 50 years to life. On a Total Success, it adds 100 years. On a Failure, it causes the drinker to turn into a Mountain Troll for 2 hours periodically. 

 

Petition to the King of Hell (level Requirement: 10): This requires a Ritual TN 6 if used on bodies raised by Guan Yang’s Longevity substance. When used on normal bodies the TN is 10. Roll Ritual and on a success the dead are restored. On a Failure the King of Hell is irate, refusing to raise the dead and demanding the petitioner perform an earthly service (often something very dangerous and difficult). 

 

FOREST TROLL FORM

In Forest Troll form, Guan Yang’s body and limbs lengthen and turn a dark blue color. His face twists into a groaning maw of razor-sharp teeth, and his hands grow long black claws. His mind is reduced to a state of pure hunger and rage. This state lasts for three hours. 

 

Defenses: Hardiness 7, Evade 7, Wits 2

Key Skills: Bite: 2d10 (2d10 Damage), Claws: 3d10 (Damage 1d10), Speed: 2d10, Muscle: 3d10, Detect: 3d10, Athletics: 2d10

 

Max Wounds: 4

 

POWERS

Claws: He can attack up to two targets each round with his claws. 

 

HUA FENG TEMPLE 

This is an old temple dedicated to Hua Feng the Frog God. He only occasionally receives offerings, and usually prefers peace and quiet. The temple is little more than a stone hall with a shrine housing a large bronze frog. There are alcoves where his children’s statues were also housed, but they are all away or dead. 

 

HUA FENG 

Hua Feng is a frog deity who normally takes the form of a giant bronze frog at the shrine of his temple. In this form he can swallow men whole and retain them in his stomach for as long as he wishes. He is filled with rage towards Kun Ji village and presently roams the forests looking for villagers to consume. 

 

Hua Feng had three children, Hua Mu, Hua Meng and Hua Ma (his only son). Both Ma and Meng are traveling together in the north. His other daughter, Hua Mu was killed, along with his son-in-law, Yuwen Chen, by Swordsman Shi at the behest of the people of Kun Ji Village. He is seething with anger and wants revenge or justice. The marriage of his daughter to Yuwen Chen pleased Hua Feng greatly. He had contemplated visiting the couple in human form, when news reached him of their murders. His grief is deep and painful. 

 

In addition to his giant frog form, Hua Feng can also take human form when he wishes, but rarely desires to do so. When he does, he dresses in splendid red robes and has wide handsome features.

 

Appeasing Hua Feng: Hua Feng can be appeased if he feels justice has been served. This could be achieved if the head of the demon hunter who killed his daughter and son-in-law is delivered to him. It could also be achieved if his daughter and son-in-law were resurrected. He may also be amenable to another marriage with one of his two children but would still likely demand some form of compensation on top of such an arrangement. 

 

Defenses: Hardiness 10 or 5 against fire, Evade 4, Wits 7

Key Skills: Bite: 2d10 (2d10 Open Damage), Swallow: 2d10 (Special), Crush: 1d10 (3d10 damage), Speed: 2d10, Detect: 2d10, Muscle: 3d10, Command: 3d10, Medicine: 1d10, Poison: 3d10, Religion: 3d10, Survival: 3d10, Divination: 3d10, Institutions: 2d10, Creatures: 2d10, History: 2d10, Classics: 2d10, Places: 1d10

 

Max Wounds: 8

POWERS

Abundance: Hua Feng can make the lands fertile in the area around his shrine and the village. He can also affect the health of trees, including the black wax trees. 

 

Dream Speak: He can speak in peoples dreams. 

 

Command Frogs: The Frog God can command swarms of frogs to do his bidding (see FROG SWARMS below). 

 

Bite: Hua Feng can choose to bite for 2d10 damage but rarely does so. 

 

Swallow: Anyone swallowed by the Frog God is trapped inside until he is destroyed or decides to release them. His belly can hold an endless number of people. If they remain in his belly for a full year, they transform into Frog Spirits. He can always release them at will. If he is destroyed, they are released by take the same damage as the attack that kills him. 

 

Crush: Hua Feng can crush or ram people for 3d10 damage. 

 

Immunities: Hua Feng is immune to Mundane and Kung Fu attacks but harmed by

but harmed by magic and fire (against Fire his Hardiness is reduced to 5).

 

Shape Change: Hua Feng can take the form of a giant bronze frog, a man or a normal frog.

 

FROG SWARMS 

Frog Swarms are more a nuisance than a direct threat. They can keep people up all night by croaking, swarm PCs and blind their senses, etc. Hua Feng can produce as many frogs as he wishes, and have them do whatever he wants. Use this ability creatively. Generally, it should not cause physical damage to the party but can hinder them or impose skill penalties. 

 

HUA MENG AND HUA MA

Huang Meng and Hua Ma are the frog spirit children of Hua Feng. Both can assume the forms of humans, frogs or large bronze frogs. In human form they have pleasing features, though they are vaguely froglike. Wherever they reside, frogs are sure to appear in great numbers. 

 

Defenses: Hardiness 8 or 3 against fire, Evade 4, Wits 6

Key Skills: Bite: 1d10 (1d10 Damage), Ram: 1d10 (2d10 damage), Speed: 2d10, Detect: 2d10, Muscle: 2d10, Command: 1d10, Medicine: 2d10, Poison: 1d10, Alchemy: 2d10, Religion: 1d10, Survival: 1d10, Divination: 1d10, Institutions: 1d10, Creatures: 1d10, History: 1d10, Classics: 1d10

 

Max Wounds: 4

Equipment: Swords

Kung Fu: Leaping Strike 

 

POWERS

Bite: They can bite for 1d10 damage 

 

Ram: In bronze frog form they can ram people for 2d10 damage. 

 

Immunities: Hua Feng is immune to Mundane and Kung Fu attacks but harmed by

but harmed by magic and fire (against Fire his Hardiness is reduced to 5).

 

Shape Change: They can assume the shape of large bronze frogs, humans or frogs.