Joe DelJanovan (Order #26694243)

Adventure Locale #3:

ellis island
 

Written by: Charles Rice

Art and maps by: Jan Willem v.d. Brink
Layout by: Ade Smith
Edited by: Elisabeth Tasciotti
Copyright ©2019 by Charles Rice

Joe DelJanovan (Order #26694243)

 Introduction
Beachhead covers the exploration and clearing
of Ellis Island. The adventure handles the
clearing of the outside of the island through
random encounters. Survivors will eventually
have every encounter and each only appears
once. When they have cleared the outer areas
of the island, they can move on to the interior
areas of the island: the morgue, the immigration
museum, and the ferry building.
Encounter format: All encounters in this
adventure are formatted as follows: HP (the
maximum number of Hit Points the creature
possesses); Skills (trained skills with relevant
ratings); Dmg (the amount of damage the
creature inflicts on a successful attack); Pg (the
page where the Game Master can find more
information- listed as either CORE or Sp1 for
the core rules or supplement #1 respectively).
Room format: Once the survivors venture into
the interior areas of the island, encounters will
include some additional information.
Scrounging Modifier: This is the modifier to
skill checks to find random minor items of
interest. Consult the Skills chapter of the Core
Rules for more information on this skill if you’re
new to the game.
Encounters: Creatures present, formatted as
above.
A search of this are reveals: These items are
not random and do not require a Scrounging
skill check to find. They do require the survivors
to spend 10 minutes or so out of combat giving
the room a quick but thorough search. In
general, unless the players announce they are
NOT searching, these items will be uncovered.
Random Encounters on Ellis Island (each
can be encountered once); roll 1d10 every
hour, or whenever the pace gets slow, or
whenever the survivors fail a Noise check
(see below).
Any time the survivors fail a Noise check by
rolling underneath the requisite % chance
(consult the Core Rules page 94), roll a new
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Joe DelJanovan (Order #26694243)
encounter rather than rolling a random number
of zombies. This could result in survivors
fighting every denizen of the island at once if
they aren’t cautious.
Kill Things, Take Their Stuff Later: The
zombies encountered randomly on the island
carry little in the way of possessions. Unless
otherwise indicated, the only items found are
those generated by Scrounging checks. Taking
the time to search bodies before the island is
cleared is unwise. Every time the group takes
the time to search dead zombies and makes a
Scrounging check, roll a new encounter. If a
number is rolled for a second time, treat this as
no encounter. In other words, the more
encounters the party has cleared, the safer this
activity becomes.
Jeremiah: It’s advisable to introduce Jeremiah
into the adventure as soon as possible. Include
him in the first random encounter. He will
approach at a distance, making sure not to get
caught in between the survivors and the
zombies. He will hiss “FRIENDLY” in a hoarse
whisper before engaging the zombies in concert
with the survivors. While he examines the party,
searching for the individual he is sworn to
protect, he tries to avoid speaking at all,
claiming to be dehydrated.
Jeremiah (Human)
“In a way, you could say I’m the luckiest man
alive. In a way.”
Number Encountered: 1 (unique)
Combat Ability: 81
Health: 45
Insight: 35
Intellect: 19
Leadership: 39
Luck: 39
Quickness: 53
Strength: 45
HP: 90 MT: 64 (-10 Max Sole Survivor) EN: 90
Action Points: 4
Level: 7 Law Enforcement
Skills: Athletics (53), Pistols (81), Scrounging
(35), Stealth (53)
Perks: Quickdraw (+25 Initiative); Pistol
Marksman; Double Tap
 Trait: Sole Survivor
Disadvantage: Secret (17): See description
below for details.
Combat: Glock 17 w/ Advanced Suppressor
and Laser Sight (-0 Recoil; 2d10+8 [+18 on
Double Tap] Dmg; 17 9x19mm Mag; 5 spare
magazines; Quiet Noise; 93+ Malfunction)
Description: Jeremiah will be encountered on
the island. He will claim to be the sole survivor
of a zombie attack that took out his group. He
will also claim that during this attack, when all
seemed lost, he saw a vision of one of the PCs.
The vision told him to seek out this PC on Ellis
Island and protect them no matter what.
Jeremiah hopes the survivors will dismiss him
as a crank, while being all too happy to take
advantage of his obvious combat skills. In fact,
Jeremiah has an explosive secret: one of the
party members, chosen by the Game Master, is
in fact the Vice President of the United States.
The President is dead, and Jeremiah was part
of the protective detail. He’s been tracking his
quarry ever since, determined to carry out his
duty.
Jeremiah will go to great lengths not to tell this
secret to anyone. He saw the VP go down with
a head wound and prefers to wait until the
memories come back on their own.
1. Groundskeeping Crew (20 Automatons):
These poor souls still carry various implements
for trimming weeds and hedges. They will move
like humans and might be mistaken for them
from a distance, especially if the Rain and Fog
events have already happened.
Encounters: 20 Automatons (HP 80; AP 4;
CQC 40; Stealth 40; Bite 2d10; Pg 28 Sp1).
Note: Automatons can be found in Supplement
#1. If you don’t own Supplement #1, substitute
Shamblers instead.
2. Medium Pack (22 Wild Dogs plus 1
Alpha): These can be fought but a much
smarter idea is to capture them. It’s better for
the survivors to wait until the other encounters
on the island have been cleared before
attempting to capture these.
Joe DelJanovan (Order #26694243)
Restrained or unconscious, these will draw
numerous zombie encounters and result in
most of the dogs being killed in successive
waves of zombies. Of course, if the PCs have a
way to restrain them and protect them from the
zombies they inevitably draw, this would be the
fastest way of clearing out the island. Reward
confident (or foolhardy) survivors by sending 2
encounters at a time (preferably Encounters #1
and #3).
Encounters: 22 Wild Dogs (HP 50; AP: 5;
Athletics 50/70 [movement only]; CQC 40;
Stealth 60; (Bite 1-5+8; Pg 31 Sp1)
Note: Information on Wild Dogs can be found in
Supplement #1. If you don’t own Supplement
#1, substitute Devil Dogs instead.
3. National Guard Contingent (30 Militants):
This is a very dangerous encounter consisting
of 30 former national guard troops who have
turned. They will always make reckless or
heavy melee attacks to take advantage of their
damage boosting Perks. Also remember that
their heavy armor doesn’t hinder their Athletics
skill.
Encounters: 30 Militants (HP 100; AP: 4; CQC
60; Athletics 40 (unaffected by armor); Bite
2d10 +4 [additional +8 on Reckless and Heavy
melee attacks]; Pg 33 Sp1)
Note: Information of Militants can be found in
Supplement #1. If you don’t own Supplement
#1, substitute Juggernauts wearing heavy
armor instead.
Items: While each of these zombies wears
Heavy Body Armor, it is in Poor Condition. Still,
with a lot of TLC, the armor could be a
significant boon to the PCs.
4. Rain: As the survivors explore the island, it
begins to pour down rain. Given the state of the
landscaping, this imposes a -10 penalty to
Athletics for movement and a -25 penalty to
Athletics checks for climbing. It’s not all bad
news though, reduce all Noise by one category
while this encounter is ongoing. Also, while the
rain is ongoing, the zombies on the island will
tend to stay put, giving the survivors a chance
to take a break if they need one. If the survivors
stay put, they will have no encounters for the
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 Ellis Island

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Joe DelJanovan (Order #26694243)
 Ellis Island Hospital

Joe DelJanovan (Order #26694243)

 hour or so that it rains. If they continue to move
around, roll new encounters as needed.
4a. Fog: When the rain ends (approximately
one hour), a thick fog sets in. This grants a +25
bonus to Stealth checks. Should the PCs try to
wait out the fog, digging in and waiting for it to
pass, they will have to wait 1-10 hours which
might force them to spend the night on the
island. Have the Silent Deadly attack (4b below)
take place while they are waiting for the fog to
pass. Remember the Noise from such an
encounter might draw additional zombies to the
survivors.
4b. Silent Deadly (17) attack: These zombies
have enough hunting instincts to take
advantage of cover when it presents itself. After
the fog sets in, they will begin hunting on the
island and will eventually encounter the PCs.
Encounters: 17 Silent Deadly (HP 70; AP 5;
CQC 40; Stealth 55; Bite 2d10 [+4 on surprise
attacks]; Pg 121 CORE).
5. Runner (10): Remember that if the survivors
have never encountered these creatures
before, they suffer 1d10 MT loss as they barrell
toward them.
Encounters: 10 Runners (HP 70; AP 5; CQC
40; Athletics 50; Bite 2d10; Pg 121 CORE)
6. Omega Zed (2): These cunning brutes will
attack from opposite directions and will both
target a single survivor. They will try to take one
down and drag them away for feeding. If
successful, this encounter will recur until both
are dead, with the Omegas striking when the
survivors least expect it.
Encounters: 2 Omega Zed (HP 130; AP 5;
CQC 70; Athletics 50; Bite 3d10+4; Pg 118
CORE)
7. Play-Dead (14): Depending on how quiet the
survivors are trying to be, and how much ammo
they have, this encounter might almost be over
before it begins. These creatures appear dead
until a living creature gets within melee range,
or someone attacks them; they will spring to the
attack.
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Joe DelJanovan (Order #26694243)
Encounters: 14 Play-Deads (HP 60; AP 4;
CQC 40; Stealth 40; Bite 2d10; Pg 119 CORE)
8. Patchwork (17): These creatures have all
had significant surgeries performed on them.
The doctors inhabiting the island attempted to
save their lives by cutting away necrotic flesh,
then cutting into their brains, all in an attempt to
find some way, any way, to halt or slow the
contagion. These poor, wretched creatures are
unliving testament to their failure.
Encounters: 17 Patchwork (HP 60; AP 4; CQC
40; Bite 2d10; Pg 119 CORE)
9. Shamblers (68): The remains of refugees
that succumbed to the illness, this group of slow
zombies should still provide a significant threat
to survivors exploring the island thanks to their
large numbers.
Encounters: 68 Shamblers (HP 60; AP 3; CQC
40; Stealth 40; Bite 2d10; Pg 121 CORE)
10. Bedlam (20): This encounter will be a
serious one if the survivors lack the resources
to engage these creatures at long range. Low-
level survivors will suffer MT loss which might
lead to terror, which causes these zombies to
frenzy. All survivors run the risk of a disease
when encountering these poor souls.
Encounters: 20 Bedlam (HP 70; AP 3; CQC
40/60; Athletics 30/50; Bite 2d10; Pg 30 Sp1)
Note: Information on Bedlam can be found in
Supplement #1. If you don’t own Supplement
#1, substitute Infected carrying a Pandemic
illness.
Miscellaneous Items: These poor souls are all
wearing straightjackets. If the survivors think
they have a use for these depressing, filthy
items, they can take them.
 Ellis Island Hospital (Interior)
Parked outside this building is one Police
Interceptor (Used Condition).
1. Entrance (Scrounging Modifier -25)
The vestibule is pretty much intact, apart from a
set of double doors that’s missing. Note for the
Game Master: There is very little dividing this
area from Area #2 (Hallway). As a result,
combat here is very likely to draw in the
monsters from Area #2. Double the Noise %
chance for all combat here. If this check
succeeds, all the monsters in 2, 2A, and 2B will
begin making their way toward this area at their
top movement speed.
Encounters: 10 Shamblers (HP 60; AP 3; CQC
40; Stealth 40; Bite 2d10; Pg 121 CORE)
A search of this area reveals: Nothing
2. Hallway (Scrounging Modifier -25)
The three pairs of swing doors are all
replacements of the original ones, and in good
condition. Note for the Game Master: See Area
#1 above for thoughts on how encounters there
can draw in the creatures from here.
Encounters: 10 Shamblers (HP 60; AP 3; CQC
40; Stealth 40; Bite 2d10; Pg 121 CORE)
2A. Jack posts support the ceiling in this end of
the hallway.
Encounters: 17 Half Pints (HP 50; AP 2; CQC
40; Bite 2d10; Pg 116 CORE)
A search of this area reveals: If the players are
able to retrieve the jack posts without triggering
a cave in, they can treat these as tools for the
Construction Skill. Improvised supports require
a Normal Construction Skill check. Otherwise,
the ceiling collapses and everyone in the area
suffers 4d10 damage.
2B. The entrance to the middle section of the
hospital is bricked up. On the other side of the
wall lies a heap of sand and debris from the
floor to the ceiling in this corner.
Encounters: 8 Militants (HP 100; AP: 4; CQC
60; Athletics 40 [unaffected by armor]; Bite
2d10 +4 [additional +8 on Reckless and Heavy
melee attacks]; Pg 33 Sp1)
Joe DelJanovan (Order #26694243)
Note: Information of Militants can be found in
Supplement #1. If you don’t own Supplement
#1, substitute Juggernauts wearing heavy
armor instead.
3. Stairwell (Scrounging Modifier -25)
The stairs in this room used to give access to
the basement, but the entire stairwell is filled
with sand and debris. Only a few bits remain of
the wooden floor.
4. Ladies’ Restroom (Scrounging Modifier
+0)
Although moldy and dirty, the interior of this
room remains fairly well preserved. A nurse
buying drugs turned and slaughtered her fellow
hospital workers here.
Encounters: 4 Tweakers (HP 60; AP: 6; CQC
40; Athletics 60; Bite 2d10 [additional +4 on
Light melee attacks]; Pg 35 Sp1)
Note: Information on Tweakers can be found in
Supplement #1. If you don’t own Supplement
#1, substitute a Runner instead.
A search of this area reveals: 10
Amphetamine, 5 Antidepressants, 7
Hydrocodone found inside a tattered ladies’
purse alongside some miscellaneous items
including lipstick (Heirloom value of 2), a
compact mirror (Heirloom value of 5), and a
keycard that will open the medical supply and
pharmaceutical dispensary (Areas 13-A and 13-
B).
5. Men’s Restroom (Scrounging Modifier -10)
Most of the tiles in this room are gone. Two jack
posts stand on wooden boards on top of the
rough concrete part of the floor.
A search of this area reveals: The two jack
posts referenced above can be taken by the
survivors. They count as tools for the
Construction Skill.
6. Family/Handicapped Restroom
This room features a broken toilet, a couple of
sinks, and a shower filled with dirt. There’s a
path through the dust from one doorway to the
other.
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 7. Former Ward turned Barracks
(Scrounging Modifier +10)
A crack runs along nearly the entire length of
the ceiling, which is supported with jack posts.
A thick layer of dust and debris covers the floor
below the crack. As conditions on Ellis Island
deteriorated and most of the patients were
transferred to the morgue, a group of soldiers
converted this hospital ward into a makeshift
barracks.
Encounters: 12 Militants (HP 100; AP: 4; CQC
60; Athletics 40 [unaffected by armor]; Bite
2d10 +4 [additional +8 on Reckless and Heavy
melee attacks]; Pg 33 Sp1)
Note: Information of Militants can be found in
Supplement #1. If you don’t own Supplement
#1, substitute Juggernauts wearing heavy
armor instead.
A search of this area reveals: 84 rounds
ammunition (9x19mm), 4 Medium Armor
(Ruined, Poor, Fair, Fair Condition), 4 Ballistic
Helmet (Ruined, Poor, Poor, Fair Condition), 2
Leather Jacket (Fair, Factory Condition), 2
Crossbow (Used, Used Condition), 2 and civilians flooding the island, before the
Composite Bow (Slightly Used, Poor Condition),
16 Smoke Grenades, 2 Claymores, 1 Mossberg
500 (Used Condition), 1 Beretta 92F (Poor
Condition), 24 Spare Parts (Small Arms), 1 M-4
SOPMOD/M-203/Advanced Suppressor/Scope
with Nightvision (Used Condition), M-21/Scope
with Nightvision (Used Condition), HK MP5-
SD/Advanced Suppressor (Fair Condition), and
12 suits of Heavy Armor (worn by Militants) (all
Poor Condition)
8. Porch (Scrounging Modifier -25)
While the support structure of this porch still
(barely) stands, the wooden planks were pried
off.
9. Stairwell (Scrounging Modifier -25)
Only the first five steps of the stairs down are
still visible. The rest of the hole is filled with
sand and debris. The stairs up seem to have
been demolished with a sledgehammer.
A search of this area reveals: 1 Books (restore MT see page 90).
Sledgehammer (Poor Condition)
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Joe DelJanovan (Order #26694243)
10. Storage (Scrounging Modifier -25)
The northeast door to this room is boarded
shut, while the other one is missing. There’s a
large bloodstain on the cracked concrete floor
near the doors. The wooden crates in this room
appear to be hastily but thoroughly looted.
A search of this area reveals: 1 Spare Part
(Construction), 1 Canned Food
11. Office (Scrounging Modifier -25)
Several dozen rickety chairs are piled up here.
12. Former Office (Scrounging Modifier -25)
Part of the wall is demolished. The room is
empty, although large parts of the floor and
walls are covered in blood.
13. Closed Off Rooms (Scrounging Modifier
+25)
These rooms were intentionally hidden by a
hospital worker who sold drugs to her fellow
doctors, nurses, and patients while the world
ended. Initially, they were hidden to protect
precious supplies from the waves of soldiers
bridge to the mainland was blown. Eventually,
one enterprising entrepreneur realized almost
everyone who knew of the hidden room was
dead or fled. She then had some maintenance
workers help her hide them even more, in return
for a share of the money.
The door to the study appears boarded up but,
in fact, pulling on the boards will reveal they
were nailed to the door, not sealing it shut but
simply hiding it. Survivors passing this door
might notice on a Hard (-25) Insight check. Any
survivor who pulls on the boards covering the
doors will automatically discover these rooms.
13A. Study. The door to the hallway has been
boarded shut, just like the window. The walls
are lined with books and several small tables
are littered with magazines.
A search of this area reveals: Book (Archery),
Book (Engineering), Book (Medicine), Book
(First Aid), Book (Pistols), and 4 Non-Skill
 13B. Former Medication Dispensary. Entry
into this room requires the key card from the
Tweaker’s purse in Area #4. Without the key
card, the only way into this room is with
explosives and a successful Demolition check, 
or 10 hours of extremely loud, incredibly
exhausting work with a sledgehammer.
A search of this area reveals: 2 Heroin, 12
Antibiotic, 12 MDMA, 6 Rubbing Alcohol, 34
Ingredients (Chemistry), and 6 Sterilized
Bandages.
14. Large Room (Scrounging Modifier -10)
This room is empty, apart from a few moldy
mattresses on the cracked, concrete floor. The
remains of a small fire lie in the center of the
room. Filthy rags cover the windows.
15. Stairwell (Scrounging Modifier -25)
The stairs and part of the floor underneath were
damaged when the dining room wall collapsed
(see area 16). The upper half of the stairs is
completely gone. There are some wide cracks
in the ceiling above.
16. Dining Room (Scrounging Modifier -10)
There are several holes in the wooden floor, the
largest of which seems to have been caused by
a fire that spread from the hearth. Someone
apparently doused the flames, but not before
part of the floor and wall collapsed.
A search of this area reveals: 15 Ingredients
(Cooking)
17. Stairwell (Scrounging Modifier -10)
The stairs in this area were removed
completely, and the holes in the ceiling and
floor covered up. There’s a large pool of dried
blood on the floor where one or more of the
play-deads in the room bled out.
There are four Play-Deads in this room, leaning
against the northern pair of double doors. As
the survivors approach, roll a Stealth check at
+25 (total chance of 65 or less). If this check is
failed, the survivors note that the doors are
slightly swaying as they approach.
If their Stealth check is successful, all four Play-
Deads burst up, gaining surprise, when any
Joe DelJanovan (Order #26694243)
survivor opens one of the swinging doors.
Encounters: 4 Play-Deads (HP 60; CQC 40;
Stealth 40; Bite 2d10; Pg 119 CORE)
A search of this area reveals: Sterilized
Bandages (10) still sealed in airtight plastic.
18. Office (Scrounging Modifier -10)
Three doors and the broken window cover the
floor.
A search of this area reveals: 1 Non-Skill
Book (a trashy romance novel), 2 Duct Tape,
and 4 Batteries
19. Bathroom (Scrounging Modifier -25)
The floor of this room is covered with debris,
mostly smashed ceramic sinks.
20. Toilet (Scrounging Modifier +0)
The door to this room is (relatively) new, just
like the concrete floor. The room is bare,
completely stripped of its original features, and
only contains cardboard boxes with paint,
brushes, sealant, sanding paper, etc.
A search of this area reveals: 31 Spare Parts
(Construction)
21. Bathroom (Scrounging Modifier -25)
There’s nothing left of the interior in this room,
and two opposite walls have been demolished.
22. Former Ward turned Barracks
(Scrounging Modifier +10)
There’s a huge hole in the wall. Chunks of
debris lie up next to a pile of sand and several
discarded doors. The animated remains of dead
soldiers in this room have transformed into
something terrible. The Omegas pounce as
soon as the survivors come in sight, or at the
sounds of nearby combat (a failed Noise check
in Area #17 for example).
Encounters: 5 Omega Zed (HP 130; AP 5;
CQC 70; Athletics 50; Bite 3d10+4; Pg 118
CORE)
A search of this area reveals: MAUL (Factory
Condition), Special Purpose Rifle (Factory
Condition), Beretta 92-F (Ruined Condition),
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 Book (Engineering), 24 Ingredients
(Demolitions), 4 Large Bombs w/ Shrapnel, 18
Tear Gas Grenades, 2 car stereos, 114 rounds
12-Gauge Ammunition, Light Body Armor (Fair
Condition), 8 Braces, and 12 bottles Purified
Water

23. Porch (Scrounging Modifier -25)

The rotting floor of this porch cannot support
any weight put on it. If a survivor tests the porch
before stepping out on it, allow a Normal (+0)
Insight check or Routine (+25) Construction
Skill check to tell it’s unsafe. If no one checks or
the check is failed, the first survivor to step out
onto the porch falls partway through and suffers
2d10 damage and automatically suffers a leg
injury.

Other Interior Areas

Across from the hospital, there is the morgue.
Once a historical site, as society fell it was
turned into a real morgue once again. The
building is now filled with zombies or every
description. These were apparently being
experimented on. They are thankfully
restrained. If the survivors act quickly, they
should be able to eliminate all these without
difficulty.

The other buildings shown on the map are left

for the Game Master to detail, as they desire.

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Joe DelJanovan (Order #26694243)