Hooks of Evil #5 - "Lost on Xenos Prime"

Adventure Hook: "Lost on Xenos Prime"

Premise:
A deep-space research team has gone silent, and the lead scientist, Dr. Harlan Kessler, has vanished. Your squad has been dispatched to Xenos Prime, a recently discovered planet with unknown lifeforms and an eerie history of strange phenomena. Your mission is simple—find Dr. Kessler, bring him back, and survive the hell that’s likely waiting for you on that forsaken rock.

The Setup:
Upon landing, your squad immediately encounters signs of chaos. The research outpost is a wreck, and the planet itself seems alive, reacting to your presence with storms and tremors. The deeper you venture into the wilderness, the more you realize—something else is here.

Plot Beats for the GM:

1. Rough Landing: After a turbulent descent through the planet’s thick atmosphere, your ship is damaged. With repairs underway, your squad treks to the last known coordinates of Dr. Kessler.

2. Hostile Terrain: The landscape is a treacherous mix of craters, jagged rocks, and Sand for miles. Natural hazards like shifting sands and magnetic storms hamper your progress, along with unsettling signs of an ancient civilization.

3. Alien Ruins: You stumble upon ancient alien structures deep in the southern region of the planet. Strange symbols etched into stone pulse with energy, hinting at a dark secret. Dr. Kessler’s notes indicate he was obsessed with these ruins—what did he discover here?

4. The Missing Scientist: You find Dr. Kessler alive—but barely. His mind has fractured, claiming the planet itself is sentient, and something is using it to hunt him. You’ll need to stabilize him to extract information, but he’s more liability than asset now.

5. The Entity: As you prepare to leave, the alien presence makes itself known. It’s not hostile by nature—but your squad’s interference has triggered its defense systems. Strange biomechanical creatures begin to emerge from the jungle, intent on eliminating you as invaders.

Encounters:

• Sand Beasts: These creatures roam sandy grounds and will ambush the squad. Use alien characteristics like bioluminescent skin and the ability to blend into their environment to keep the tension high.

• Ancient Defenders: Guardians of the ruins, these sentient constructs won't attack unless provoked—but they interpret any attempts to explore the ruins as aggression.

• Planetary Lifeform: Xenos Prime is alive, and it reacts to fear. Environmental hazards will increase as the squad becomes more desperate. Fleeing creatures, rising waters, and even strange atmospheric shifts will challenge their survival.

Conclusion: Retrieve Dr. Kessler, get back to your ship, and escape before the planet swallows you whole. But beware—the damage done may mean you can’t leave so easily.