Integrating Adventurer Conqueror King System II (ACKS II) with the legendary, chaotic, and maximum-gonzo DNA of Dave Hargrave’s Arduin Grimoires - Converting Arduin's Welcome to Skull Tower (1978) To ACKS II

 Converting Dave Hargrave’s The Arduin Grimoire Vol. II: Welcome to Skull Tower (1978) to Adventurer Conqueror King System II (ACKS II) involves bridging two very distinct Old-School Revival (OSR) philosophies.

• Arduin was chaotic, gonzo, high-lethal, and rule-breaking (introducing hit location tables, high-damage criticals, multidimensional tech, and radical class variants).

• ACKS II is a rigorously simulationist, economically balanced, and mathematically sound B/X-derived system.

Here is how to adapt the core concepts, mechanical quirks, and signature elements of Welcome to Skull Tower into ACKS II. This blog post picks right up from Integrating Adventurer Conqueror King System II (ACKS II) with the legendary, chaotic, and maximum-gonzo DNA of Dave Hargrave’s Arduin Grimoires - Arduin Caravan ACKS II rpg

1. Philosophical & System Translation Rules

Arduin Concept	ACKS II Equivalent / Translation	Notes
Descending AC (AC 9 to AC -10)	Ascending AC (AC 0 = Naked, AC 2 = Leather, AC 7 = Plate + Shield)	Convert Arduin AC: $\text{ACKS AC} = 9 - \text{Arduin AC}$.
Attack Rolls (d20 vs Target AC)	Attack Throw (Target AC + Base Attack Throw)	Use standard ACKS II Attack Throw progressions (Fighter 11+, Mage 13+, etc.).
Saving Throws	ACKS II 5-Category Saving Throws	Map Arduin saves directly to Blast/Breath, Lethal, Poison, Spells, or Devices.
Extreme Critical Hits / Fumbles	Mortal Wounds & Severed Limbs	Map Arduin’s gruesome critical tables to the ACKS II Mortal Wounds Table.
Gonzo / Multiversal Loot	High-Value Relics / Shaded Artifacts	Assign high-tier GP value, or treat cross-genre items as ancient First Age artifacts.

2. Converting Signature Arduin Classes to ACKS II

Welcome to Skull Tower introduced several memorable class concepts and variants. In ACKS II, you can implement these using the Custom Class Creation System from the ACKS II Judge's Journal.

The Rune Weaver (Arduin Arcane Class)

In Arduin, Rune Weavers carve runes into physical media to store and trigger spells.

• ACKS II Implementation: Build as an Arcane Class with the Artifice / Inscription trade skill, or a specialized variant of the Mage.

• Class Trade-offs: Reduce Hit Die to d4, grant standard Arcane spell casting, and grant the Rune Scribe custom proficiency (allowing the creation of spell scrolls, glyphs, and warding runes at half normal time and gold cost).

The Amazon Warrior

In Hargrave's rules, Amazons gained specific combat bonuses and martial prowess.

• ACKS II Implementation: Build as a custom human class using the Fighter Archetype (d8 Hit Dice, standard combat progression).

• Proficiencies: Grant Combat Reflexes, Running, and Weapon Focus (Bow or Spear).

3. Monster & Encounter Conversion

Arduin monsters are notoriously deadly, often featuring unusual special attacks or massive hit points.

Quick Conversion Matrix for Arduin Monsters

1. Hit Dice (HD): Keep the same HD count. Recalculate hit points using ACKS II HD standards (d8 for normal monsters).

2. Armor Class (AC): Convert using $\text{ACKS AC} = 9 - \text{Arduin AC}$.

3. Movement: Convert Arduin inches/feet to ACKS II turn/encounter speeds:

   • $9''$ or $90' \rightarrow 120'/40'$

   • $12''$ or $120' \rightarrow 150'/50'$

4. Morale: Map Arduin aggressiveness to the ACKS II d20 Morale scale (-4 to +4, where 0 is standard).

Example Monster Conversion: Skull Tower Phantasm

Arduin Stats (Vol. II): HD 6, AC 2, Damage 1d10 + Energy Drain, Speed 12'', Attacks: 2 Touches.

Plaintext

Phantasm (Undead Monster)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hit Dice:            6* (27 hp)
Armor Class:         7 (Ascending)
Attacks:             2 ghostly touches (+6 attack throw)
Damage:              1d8 + Energy Drain (1 level on failed save vs. 

Lethal)
Movement:            150' (50') flying
Saving Throws:       11+ (Blast 12+, Lethal 11+, Poison 11+, 

Spells 12+)
Morale:              +2
XP Value:            1,070 XP
Special Abilities:   Incorporeal (only hit by silver/magic weapons), 
                     Undead immunities (sleep, charm, hold, poison).

4. Adapting Arduin Mechanics & Flavor

1. Critical Hits & Lethality

Arduin is famous for its brutal critical hit tables (e.g., "Skull crushed, brain destroyed instantly").

• ACKS II Integration: Use the native ACKS II Mortal Wounds and Tampering with Mortality mechanics.

• Optional "Gonzo" Rule: If a character suffers a critical hit, apply a -4 penalty to their roll on the ACKS II Mortal Wounds table to simulate Hargrave’s sheer lethality.

2. Treasure & Multi-Genre Artifacts

Welcome to Skull Tower often intermingles classic medieval fantasy loot with high-tech or alien items (laser pistols, power cells, alien artifacts).

• ACKS II Integration:

  • Classify high-tech items as First Age Artifacts or Chthonic Devices.

  • Assign a Gold Piece Value (GP) based on utility to ensure it integrates seamlessly into ACKS II’s campaign economy and XP progression.

  • Require a Proficiency Check (Engineering or Ancient History) to operate high-tech devices without causing a catastrophic malfunction.

3. Dungeon Delving in Skull Tower

• Dungeon Mechanics: Map Arduin dungeon levels using the ACKS II Dungeon Exploration Engine (turns, wandering monster rolls every 2 turns on a d6, light management, and encumbrance by stones/weight).

• Traps: Convert Arduin traps directly to ACKS II Save vs. Blast/Breath or Lethal, dealing damage scaled by dungeon level:

  • Level 1-2: 1d6–2d6 damage

  • Level 3-5: 3d6–6d6 damage

  • Level 6+: 8d6+ damage or save-or-die / save-or-maim

One of the most terrifyingly iconic creatures to come out of Dave Hargrave’s Arduin Grimoire trilogy (Welcome to Skull Tower) is the Hell Maiden.

Appearing as statuesque, metal-clad warrior women whose heads are bare, grinning animal-and-humanoid skulls, Hell Maidens are not undead—they are extraplanar, flesh-eating warrior demonesses that ride skeletal steeds (Hell Horses) into combat, collecting the slain to bring back to their dark realms.

Here is a complete ACKS II stat block and tactical encounter guide for translating a Hell Maiden into your campaign.

Hell Maiden (Monster Stat Block)

From the front, she appears as a knight in burnished obsidian plate armor, wielding a heavy lance. When her visor lifts, there is no face—only a polished, bone-white human skull emitting a low, vibrating screech.

Plaintext

Hell Maiden (Extraplanar / Demonic)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hit Dice:            7* (31 hp)
Armor Class:         8 (Plate Armor + Shield, Ascending)
Attacks:             1 Heavy Lance (+7 attack throw, 1d10+2 damage / 2d10+4 mounted charge) 
                     OR 1 Broadsword (+7 attack throw, 1d8+2 damage)
Movement:            120' (40') / Mounted: 240' (80')
Saving Throws:       10+ (Blast 11+, Lethal 10+, Poison 10+, Spells 11+)
Morale:              +2
Alignment:           Chaotic
XP Value:            1,250 XP
Number Appearing:    1d4 (Lair: 2d4)
Special Abilities:   Demon-Skin, War Screech, Death-Grasp, Planar Sight.

Special Abilities

• Demon-Skin: Non-magical weapons bounce off a Hell Maiden without dealing damage. They can only be harmed by magical or silver weapons. Despite their skeletal appearance, they are not undead and cannot be Turned by Clerics.

• War Screech: Once per encounter, a Hell Maiden can emit a terrifying, unnatural war cry. All enemies within 60 feet must make a Save vs. Spells or suffer a -2 penalty to Attack Throws and Morale checks for 1d6 rounds due to sheer dread.

• Death-Grasp: If a Hell Maiden reduces a PC to 0 HP with a melee attack, the target immediately suffers a -2 penalty on their ACKS II Mortal Wounds Table roll. If the PC dies, the Hell Maiden will attempt to sling the corpse over her mount as a trophy/food source.

• Immunity: Completely immune to level/energy drain, sleep, charm, hold, and fear effects.

The Mount: Hell Horse

Hell Maidens rarely travel on foot. They ride Hell Horses—skeletal equines with cat-like fangs, bone-hooves, and burning green flames inside their eye sockets.

Plaintext

Hell Horse (Undead Beast)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hit Dice:            5* (22 hp)
Armor Class:         5 (Ascending)
Attacks:             2 Hooves (+5 attack throw, 1d6 damage) and 1 Bite (+5 attack throw, 1d8 damage)
Movement:            240' (80')
Saving Throws:       12+
Morale:              +3 (+4 if rider is present)
Alignment:           Chaotic
XP Value:            425 XP
Special Abilities:   Undead Immunities, Silver/Magic to Hit, Anti-Dwarf Fury.

• Anti-Dwarf Fury: Hell Horses harbor a deep, magical hatred for Dwarves. If a Dwarf is present in the party, the Hell Horse will always target them first in combat unless forced otherwise by its rider.

Encounter Guide: The Black Tollbridge

Scenario Setup

The PCs are traveling through a wilderness choke point (a narrow canyon pass, an ancient stone bridge over a chasm, or a ruined watchtower threshold). A solitary Hell Maiden mounted on a Hell Horse stands motionless, blocking the path. A heavy iron cage dangles from her saddle, holding the bloodied remnants of a previous adventuring group.

Tactics & Behavior

1. The Charge (Round 1): If the PCs approach aggressively, the Hell Maiden uses her movement to initiate a Mounted Charge with her heavy lance (+7 to hit, dealing 2d10+4 damage).

2. The Shockwave (Round 2): After the initial charge, she wheels her mount around and uses her War Screech to break party cohesion and force Morale checks on hirelings/henchmen.

3. Flanking & Isolation (Round 3+): She uses the mobility of her Hell Horse to isolate squishy targets (Mages, Thieves) or direct her mount toward any Dwarves in the front line. She switches to her broadsword for close-quarters fighting.

4. Retreat Condition: A Hell Maiden's goal is hunting, not suicide. If her mount is slain or she is reduced to under 25% HP, she will attempt to grab a fallen party member or corpse and escape into the Ethereal Plane / Outer Dimensions (taking 1 turn to channel).

Loot & Campaign Economy (ACKS II Integration)

Defeating a Hell Maiden yields high-tier loot, but requires handling cross-planar materials carefully:

• Obsidian Plate Armor of the Void: Fits only Chaotic humanoids or extraplanar beings. Can be re-forged by an expert armorer (requiring 1,000 GP in labor) into standard +1 Plate Armor for a PC.

• Demon-Steel Broadsword: Counts as a magical weapon (+0 to hit, but bypasses damage resistance requiring magic weapons). Worth 1,200 GP to collectors or sages.

• Loot Bag / Saddlebags: Contains 2d6 $\times$ 100 GP in trade gems, 1d4 healing potions stolen from past victims, and potentially a First Age Artifact or strange planar device (e.g., an alien compass that points toward multidimensional rifts).

Integrating Adventurer Conqueror King System II (ACKS II) with the legendary, chaotic, and maximum-gonzo DNA of Dave Hargrave’s Arduin Grimoires - Arduin Caravan ACKS II rpg

 To run a caravan in an Arduin campaign using ACKS II, you must merge David A. Hargrave's gonzo, trans-dimensional trade items with Alexander Macris's strict logistical and economic simulation. This blog post picks right up from Integrating Adventurer Conqueror King System II (ACKS II) with the legendary, chaotic, and maximum-gonzo DNA of Dave Hargrave's Arduin Grimoires - ACKS II Domain Level Play Part II

In ACKS II, trade is treated as a calculated financial risk. This hybrid system translates standard ACKS II mercantile venture rules into a framework that accounts for gravity-defying vehicles, alien guards, and highly volatile cross-dimensional cargo.

1. Cargo Capacity & The "Tech-Stone" System

ACKS II measures all caravan cargo in Stone (1 stone = 10 lbs). In Arduin, cargo falls into three distinct categories that dictate how it must be transported and secured.

• Standard Terrestrial Cargo (100 gp/stone baseline): Grain, iron, timber, or wine. Moved in standard crates.

• Volatile Technic Salvage (500 gp/stone baseline): Laser parts, wire looms, and deactivated circuits.

  • Constraint: Must be packed in Static-Shielding Crates (cost: 50 gp per 10-stone crate). If transported in standard wooden crates, any lightning spell or EMP encounter within 60 feet destroys 50% of the salvage value.

• Hazardous Materials (1,000+ gp/stone baseline): Unstable power cells, plutonium cores, mutagenic fluids, or planar drugs.

  • Constraint: Requires heavy, lead-lined Hazard Vaults (weighing 5 stone empty, holding up to 10 stone of material). If a wagon carrying unvaulted hazardous material takes structural damage, the surrounding hex is contaminated, forcing daily saving throws against radiation/poison for the crew.

2. Arduinian Caravan Vehicles & Mounts

Replace the standard ACKS II draft animals and carts with technomantic and alien alternatives, adjusting their movement rates and load capacities.

Vehicle / Mount	Speed (Hexes/Day)	Load Capacity	Monthly Upkeep	Special Rules
Standard Mule Train	2	20 stone per mule	5 gp / mule	Requires feed; vulnerable to alien predators.
Phraint Chitin-Wagon	3	120 stone	30 gp	Pulled by giant domestic beetles. Immune to normal fear checks.
Technic Crawler	1 (all terrains)	400 stone	150 gp	Tread-based machine. Ignores swamp and mountain speed penalties. Requires 2 Power Cells per day.
Skyship / Hover-Barge	4 (airborne)	300 stone	400 gp	Ignores ground terrain and river crossings. Highly vulnerable to aerial attacks. Requires 1 canister of Liquid Promethium per day.

3. Hiring Planar Security & Payroll

A caravan traveling through the borderlands of Skull Tower or the Arduin wild needs more than basic human bowmen. Use the ACKS II mercenary hiring framework, adjusted for Arduinian specialists:

• Standard Guard (Human): 6 gp/month. Standard security.

• Phraint Outrider: 35 gp/month. Armed with composite bows and greatswords. Can leap to scout ahead, reducing the caravan's chance of being surprised from 2-in-6 to 1-in-6.

• Cybernetic Enforcer: 75 gp/month. Fearless, heavy infantry with integrated armor. Never checks morale due to casualties, but requires specialized repair parts (10 gp/month) instead of standard rations.

• Techno-Navigator: 150 gp/month. Essential for planar travel. Grants a +2 bonus to all navigation and gate-alignment rolls.

4. Resolving the Planar Venture (The Math)

When a caravan reaches its destination, the merchant resolves the trade transaction. We adapt the standard ACKS II Mercantile Venture formula:

$$\text{Net Profit} = (\text{Sale Value} \times \text{Market Modifier}) - (\text{Purchase Cost} + \text{Caravan Upkeep} + \text{Tariffs})$$

Step 1: The Purchase

The merchant buys cargo at the starting market.

• Standard goods: Bought at standard ACKS II prices.

• Technic salvage: Bought using the Gate Import/Export Table.

Step 2: The Journey

The Judge rolls for wandering monsters or logistical mishaps once per hex of wilderness traversed (or once per week of transit through a World Gate), using the Cross-Dimensional Caravan Table.

Step 3: The Sale & Market Modifier

Upon reaching the destination market, the merchant rolls 3d6 + Charisma Modifier + Planar Navigation/Commerce Skill Bonus to determine the local demand:

• Roll 3–5 (Market Overstocked): The cargo sells for only 60% of its baseline value.

• Roll 6–8 (Low Demand): The cargo sells for 80% of its baseline value.

• Roll 9–12 (Standard Market): The cargo sells for 100% of its baseline value.

• Roll 13–15 (High Demand): The cargo sells for 120% of its baseline value.

• Roll 16+ (Planar Shortage): The cargo sells for 150% of its baseline value.

Arduin Flux Modifier: If selling high-tech salvage in a primitive, low-tech fantasy market, apply a -4 penalty to the roll because the locals do not understand or fear the technology. If selling it at a planar nexus like Skull Tower, apply a +2 bonus.

Step 4: Pay Expenses & Distribute XP

Subtract the cost of hired guards, fuel, feed, and gate tariffs from the gross profit.

• XP Gain: In keeping with OSR and ACKS II progression, the caravan owner receives 1 XP per 1 gp of net profit earned. This XP can be shared with any PC bodyguards or retainers who personally accompanied the caravan and kept it from being plundered.
  
  

When a caravan approaches an unmapped, flickering, or decaying World Gate, the merchant cannot rely on established shipping lanes. They must attempt a Blind Jump.

In the high-stakes logistics of an Arduin/ACKS II campaign, a blind jump is the ultimate gamble: it can bypass weeks of travel across dangerous wilderness hexes, or it can scatter your investment across the outer dark of the multiverse.

Here is the systematic procedure for resolving a Blind Gate Jump.

1. The Gate Navigation Check

Before the first wagon crosses the event horizon, the caravan's lead navigator (typically a Planar Merchant, a Techno calibrating a gate-key, or a hired specialist) must make a Gate Navigation Check.

This is a d20 roll:

$$\text{Roll} \ge \text{Target Difficulty Class (DC)}$$

• Base Target DC: 14 (Modified by the gate's physical stability).

• Applicable Class Skills: A Planar Merchant can substitute their Planar Market Navigation percentile (converted to a d20 target: e.g., $70\% = 6 \text{ or better}$) for this check. A Techno can use their Technological Aptitude if the gate is a technological relic.

• Applicable Proficiencies: Characters with Navigation, Ancient Lore (Technology), or Mapping gain a +2 bonus to the roll.

Gate Stability Modifiers

The state of the rift itself heavily influences the math:

Gate Condition	DC Modifier	Description
Stable / Monitored	-4	A mapped, taxed, and structurally anchored portal.
Decaying / Ancient	+2	An abandoned portal with fluctuating power conduits.
Dimensional Storm	+4	The portal is currently experiencing a solar or astral tempest.
Completely Unmapped	+3	Destination coordinates are entirely unknown; jumping blind.
Stabilizing Beacon	-2	A Techno has deployed a beacon on the receiving end.
Heavy Tech Load	+1 per 50 stone	Massive power signatures from heavy tech (e.g., Power Armor, Shield Generators) disrupt the portal's targeting field.

2. Resolving the Jump Outcomes

Roll d20, apply the modifiers from the table above, and compare the result to the target DC.

Great Success (Beat DC by 5 or more)

The caravan slips through the dimensional fold flawlessly. The transition is instantaneous and painless.

• Logistical Benefit: The caravan arrives at its destination with zero transit time and no fuel/upkeep consumed for the week. The team gains a +1 bonus to their upcoming Market Venture roll due to the pristine condition of the goods.

Marginal Success (Met the DC exactly, or up to 4 over)

The caravan crosses the rift, but the transition is turbulent.

• Logistical Penalty: The spatial shear drains 1 Power Cell from every active technological item carried. The draft animals are severely disoriented, requiring 2 days of rest at the destination hex before they can move or unload.

Failure (Missed the DC by 1 to 5 points)

The targeting sequence drifted mid-transit. The caravan is Planar Scattered.

• The Scatter: The caravan does not arrive at the target hex. Instead, roll a d6 for scatter direction and 1d4 hexes of distance away from the destination. If the destination was a different plane, they land in a random, potentially hostile wilderness region of that plane.

Catastrophic Failure (Missed the DC by 6 or more)

The gate's containment matrix collapses during transit. The caravan is caught in the physical and temporal backwash. Roll immediately on the Gate Mishap Table below.

3. The Gate Mishap Table (d12)

If the caravan experiences a Catastrophic Failure during a blind jump, roll 1d12 to resolve the dimensional fallout.

d12	Mishap Event	Mechanical and Logistical Impact
1	The Chronal Loop	The caravan is trapped in a micro-pocket of looped time. They arrive at the destination, but 1d3 months have passed in the outside world, while only an hour passed for the crew. Domain maintenance and hireling wages must still be paid for the missing months.
2	Flesh-Warping Radiation	The gate's cooling shielding fails. Every organic creature (including PCs, guards, and draft animals) must make a Save vs. Poison/Radiation at a -2 penalty. Failure results in a permanent cosmetic mutation and the loss of 1d4 Strength or Constitution points.
3	Planar Fusion	Two random cargo wagons or vehicles physically fuse together at the atomic level. Both are rendered completely immobile. The merchant must abandon 50% of the cargo capacity or spend 3 days using plasma cutters to salvage what they can, rolling twice on the Wilderness Encounter Table during the delay.
4	Power Core Melt	Every Power Cell, battery, and reactor core currently carried by the caravan is instantly drained to 0. Any active Power Armor seizes (immobilizing the pilot), and all energy weapons are rendered useless until manual charging stations are built.
5	The Void Leech	An invisible, extra-dimensional parasite clings to the lead cargo container. It slowly consumes the lifeforce of the draft animals. One animal dies every night (20 stone of carrying capacity lost per night) until a Mage casts Dispel Magic or a Medicine Man successfully identifies and purges the parasite.
6	Spatial Displacement (The Drop)	The exit portal opens 100 feet in the air above the destination hex. If using a Skyship or Hover-Barge, they survive but take 3d6 structural damage. Ground-based wagons take automatic catastrophic damage; all cargo is spilled, and 50% of the goods are instantly destroyed by the impact.
7	Memory Bleed	The psychic weight of the void wipes the minds of the hirelings. All mercenaries, guards, and teamsters lose their training. They function as Level 0 peasants with Morale -4 until they spend a full month resting in a civilized Class I or II market city.
8	The Chrome Plague	Nanites from a dead world infect the cargo. Over the next 48 hours, all organic goods (grain, livestock, wood, textiles) are slowly crystallized into brittle, useless grey metal. The value of these cargo lots is permanently reduced to 0.
9	Demonic Hitchhiker	An outer entity from the Arduin Void slips into the body of a random hireling or animal. At a highly inconvenient moment during the next week of travel, the host will violently burst, releasing a Dimensional Shambler directly inside the camp.
10	Gravity Shearing	The caravan is violently spit out of the gate sideways. All vehicles must make a structural saving throw or break their axles. The physical whiplash deals 3d6 damage to all crew members (Save vs. Blast for half damage).
11	Technic Inversion	The internal polarities of all technological items are permanently reversed. Blasters now heal targets for 1d6 (draining their battery cells instantly), and medical scanners deal 1d6 plasma damage when activated. Fixing this requires a Techno to spend 1 week of calibration time per item in a functional workshop.
12	The Outer Dark	The gate does not exit. The entire caravan is cast into the deep, unmapped ethereal void between realities. The campaign scale temporarily pauses; the party must now complete a custom dungeon-crawl/survival escape adventure to find a way back to known space.