Weird War Two: Land of the Rising Deadby Michael Monteso
Concept and Additional Material by Shane Lacy HensleyCover by
Chris AppelLogos by Chris Appel
Interior Art by Marcio FioritoPhotos Courtesty of the National
Archives
Headers, Footers, and Graphic Design by Chris LibeyEditing and
Layout by John R. “War Monger” Hopler
Author’s Dedication: This book is dedicated to all those who
served in the Pacific Theater of Operations in World War Two, and
especially myfather, John Montesa, because he saw it all and made
it through.
PlaPlaPlaPlaPlaytesting:ytesting:ytesting:ytesting:ytesting:
Jason Nichols, Mario Lee Bansen III, Christy Hopler, Chris Libey,
Zeke Sparkes, BobTipton, Katarina Tipton, and Michelle Hensley.
Further PlaFurther PlaFurther PlaFurther PlaFurther Playtesting
and Aytesting and Aytesting and Aytesting and Aytesting and
Advice:dvice:dvice:dvice:dvice: Jay Kyle, Matt Tice, Sandor
Silverman, Graveyard Greg, Pat Phalen,Mark Metzner, Eric Lee,
Trevor Lee, Bryan Maloney, and Scott Nethery.
WWW.PEGINC.COM
TM
TM
TM
This electronic book is copyright Pinnacle Entertainment
Group.Redistribution by print or by file is strictly
prohibited.
Add 2 to all Page Number References to account for the cover of
this Ebook.
Sam
ple
file
Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Inc.Pinnacle Entertainment Group,
Inc.Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Inc.Pinnacle Entertainment Group,
Inc.Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Inc. WWW.PEGINC.COMWeird Wars,
Weird War Two, and all related characters and
contents herein are trademarks ofPinnacle Entertainment Group,
Inc.
© Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Inc.All Rights Reserved.
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0The following text is the property
of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright2000 Wizards of the
Coast, Inc (“Wizards”). All Rights Reserved.1. Definitions:
(a)”Contributors” means the copyright and/or trademark owners
whohave contributed Open Game Content; (b)”Derivative Material”
means copyrightedmaterial including derivative works and
translations (including into othercomputer languages), potation,
modification, correction, addition, extension,upgrade, improvement,
compilation, abridgment or other form in which anexisting work may
be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) “Distribute” means
toreproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly
display, transmit orotherwise distribute; (d)”Open Game Content”
means the game mechanic andincludes the methods, procedures,
processes and routines to the extent suchcontent does not embody
the Product Identity and is an enhancement over theprior art and
any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content
bythe Contributor, and means any work covered by this License,
includingtranslations and derivative works under copyright law, but
specifically excludesProduct Identity. (e) “Product Identity” means
product and product line names, logosand identifying marks
including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters;
stories,storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents,
language, artwork,symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses,
formats, poses, concepts, themes andgraphic, photographic and other
visual or audio representations; names anddescriptions of
characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams,
personas,likenesses and special abilities; places, locations,
environments, creatures,equipment, magical or supernatural
abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphicdesigns; and any
other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified
asProduct identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which
specificallyexcludes the Open Game Content; (f) “Trademark” means
the logos, names, mark,sign, motto, designs that are used by a
Contributor to identify itself or its productsor the associated
products contributed to the Open Game License by theContributor (g)
“Use”, “Used” or “Using” means to use, Distribute, copy, edit,
format,modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material
of Open Game Content.(h) “You” or “Your” means the licensee in
terms of this agreement.2. The License: This License applies to any
Open Game Content that contains anotice indicating that the Open
Game Content may only be Used under and interms of this License.
You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content thatyou Use.
No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except
asdescribed by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may
be applied toany Open Game Content distributed using this
License.3.Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You
indicate Youracceptance of the terms of this License.4. Grant and
Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License,
theContributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free,
non-exclusive licensewith the exact terms of this License to Use,
the Open Game Content.
5.Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are
contributing originalmaterial as Open Game Content, You represent
that Your Contributions are Youroriginal creation and/or You have
sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed bythis
License.6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the
COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion ofthis License to include the exact text
of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any OpenGame Content You are copying,
modifying or distributing, and You must add thetitle, the copyright
date, and the copyright holder’s name to the COPYRIGHTNOTICE of any
original Open Game Content you Distribute.7. Use of Product
Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including asan
indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in
another,independent Agreement with the owner of each element of
that Product Identity.You agree not to indicate compatibility or
co-adaptability with any Trademark orRegistered Trademark in
conjunction with a work containing Open Game Contentexcept as
expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the
ownerof such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any
Product Identity inOpen Game Content does not constitute a
challenge to the ownership of thatProduct Identity. The owner of
any Product Identity used in Open Game Contentshall retain all
rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.8.
Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must
clearly indicatewhich portions of the work that you are
distributing are Open Game Content.9. Updating the License: Wizards
or its designated Agents may publish updatedversions of this
License. You may use any authorized version of this License tocopy,
modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed
underany version of this License.10 Copy of this License: You MUST
include a copy of this License with every copyof the Open Game
Content You Distribute.11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not
market or advertise the Open GameContent using the name of any
Contributor unless You have written permissionfrom the Contributor
to do so.12 Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to
comply with any of the termsof this License with respect to some or
all of the Open Game Content due tostatute, judicial order, or
governmental regulation then You may not Use any OpenGame Material
so affected.13 Termination: This License will terminate
automatically if You fail to complywith all terms herein and fail
to cure such breach within 30 days of becomingaware of the breach.
All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.14
Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be
unenforceable, suchprovision shall be reformed only to the extent
necessary to make it enforceable.15 COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Open Game
License v 1.0 Open Game License v 1.0 Open Game License v 1.0 Open
Game License v 1.0 Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards
of theCoast, Inc.; System Reference Document: Copyright 2001,
Wizards of the Coast. Inc.;WWWWWeireireireireird Wd Wd Wd Wd
Wararararars, Ws, Ws, Ws, Ws, Weireireireireird Wd Wd Wd Wd War Tar
Tar Tar Tar Twwwwwo, o, o, o, o, and all related Product Identity
trademarks definedabove are Copyright 2001, Pinnacle Entertainment
Group, Inc.
Open Gaming Licensing InformationThis printing of Weird Wars:
Land of the Rising DEad® is done under version 1.0 of the Open
Gaming License and the D20
System Trademark License, D20 System Trademark Logo Guide and
System Reference Document by permission fromWizards of the
Coast.®
This product requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons®
Player’s Handbook, Third Edition, published by Wizards of theCoast®
Dungeons & Dragons® and Wizards of the Coast® are Registered
Trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, and are usedwith
Permission.
“d20 System “ and the “d20 System” logo are trademarks owned by
Wizards of the Coast® and are used according to theterms of the d20
System License, version 1.0a. A copy of this license can be found
at www.wizards.com.
Portions of Weird Wars® are Open Game Content licensed with
version 1.0a of the Open Gaming License (see below).
Designation of PrDesignation of PrDesignation of PrDesignation
of PrDesignation of Product Identity:oduct Identity:oduct
Identity:oduct Identity:oduct Identity: All material other than
game rules already considered Open Gaming Content isconsidered
Product Identity as described in Section I(e) of the Open Game
License v. 1.0a (see below). This includes, but is notlimited to
Weird Wars, Weird War Two, all non-historical characters,
artifacts, creatures, spells, non-historical place names,events,
plots, artwork, logos, trade dress, product names, product lines,
artifacts, spells, and creature names.
In addition, the following specific terms are considered Product
Identity: wehrwolves, rune magic, the OSI, OSI Adept, OSIChaplain,
OSI Operative, and the Sons of Solomon.
Designation of Open Gaming Content:Designation of Open Gaming
Content:Designation of Open Gaming Content:Designation of Open
Gaming Content:Designation of Open Gaming Content: With the
exception of Product Identity, the text of all Classes, Skills,
Feats,Equipment, Weapons, and Vehicles are Open Game Content. All
creature statistic templates from the creature’s Size
toAdvancement, character statistics from Challenge Rating to
Special Qualities, and other statistics or game rules derivative
ofOGC and the System Reference Document are to be considered Open
Gaming Content, excepting Product Identity as definedabove.
Any content from the System Reference Document
(www.wizards.com/d20), or derived from the System ReferenceDocument
is also Open Game Content. If you have questions about the Open
Game Content status of any material herein,please contact Pinnacle
Entertainment Group for clarification.
™
Sam
ple
file
Weird Wars
Prologue:Semper Fidelis
There’s something I need to tell younow, my wife. Something I’ve
kept silentabout for 60 years because thegovernment told me not to
talk about itwith anyone, not even you. Well, I’m notmuch longer
for this world, and themachine on the frame of this hospitalbed
beeps away the seconds I have left.It’s time I told you, and I’m
sorry I kept itfrom you for so long. Sorry I put youthrough all
those nights when I woke upscreaming, and you held me and told
meeverything was all right.
You knew I was with the Marines onGuadalcanal in ’42, and that
we fought theJapanese. I spared you most of the detailsnot because
I thought it would shockyou, but because I didn’t want toremember.
I think you imagined it washorrible enough, but there on
Guadalcanal,I saw something I’ve never forgotten. Theytold me it
was combat fatigue, post-traumatic stress, shell shock, whateveryou
want to call it. They said I was crazy.
I kept silent but I have to tell you now.I know what I saw, and
I’m not going todie without setting the record straight, atleast
with you.
October 23rd, 1942. I was with EasyCompany, 1st Battalion, 7th
Marines underthe legendary Lt. Colonel Lewis “Chesty”
Puller. We dug in on the perimeter to thesouth of Henderson
airfield and held itfor three weeks against Japanese attacks.Then
it was quiet for about a week butwe knew it wasn’t over. The Japs
pulledback to regroup and build up enoughstrength on the island for
an offensive toretake Henderson field and thus, theisland. As the
sun set that evening andthe rains began, we heard that the
defenseline near the Matanikau River to the northwas being
reinforced. 2nd Battalion pulledup stakes and moved out, leaving us
tohold the line.
I waited with every sense on full alertas the night crept up on
me in myfoxhole, the crump of artillery and crackleof small arms
fire echoing in thedarkness. 2nd battalion was getting hit,and hit
hard from the sound of it. Myfoxhole buddy, Nelson, a lean kid
fromIdaho, fidgeted nervously, aching for asmoke.
* * *
“Damn, “ he muttered. “I hate thiswaiting.”
“When it starts you’ll wish it was over,”I told him.
“Yeah, but then it gets over, you see?Geez, I need a smoke.”
Sam
ple
file
8
Prologue
“You light up and Gunny Turner’ll haveyou on latrine duty for a
week, if a Japsniper doesn’t pick you off first.”
“You think they’ll come?” Nelsonwhispered, snapping me out of
myconcentration.
“I think they aren’t going to let us leavethe dance without
filling out our card.”There was a rustle on my left and theclink of
gear. Nelson and I flipped thesafeties off our rifles and aimed
into thedark.
Nelson hissed out the challenge,“Kitchen!”
The password came back through theblackness, “Sink!” and Gunnery
SergeantTurner slid into the hole with us.
“The Japs have pulled back and they’recoming around this way.
You boys gotenough ammo?” he asked. We nodded.“Good. Here’s a few
more clips,” he saidhanding us a bandolier. “You stay in thishole
and hang tough.” Gunny Turnerclimbed out of the hole and gave
Nelsona reassuring clap on the helmet. “SemperFi, Always Faithful,
Marines. We’re all in
this together.” He disappeared into thedark to check the other
holes that formedour company line.
I checked my rifle for the umpteenthtime, peering through the
sights into thedarkness of the jungle. The wind rustledthrough the
trees and brush and I foundmyself watching a swaying leaf
intentlytrying to determine if it was an enemysoldier. Minutes or
maybe hours passed.
The clouds broke. Huge, roundraindrops splattered off the trees
likeliquid shrapnel. Lightning split the sky.The jungle lit up
momentarily and therethey were. Japs! Dozens of them, not 30yards
away and closing fast! Someone ina nearby foxhole shrieked, “Open
fire!”and the line erupted with muzzle flashes.
The Japs gave a ferocious “Banzai!” andcharged us. I blasted out
two clips beforethey were on top of us and I was fightingfor my
life in the slippery mud. Westopped the first attack cold but as
theJaps pulled back, they hit us with mortarfire. There was no
telling the thunder fromthe explosions as we suffered through
the
“They’re comin’ again. Get ready!”Sam
ple
file
