Just Denial and Hysteria

(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Playtest Rules.)

Afterward

Let’s see, the Characters should now be in the possession of a large, but somewhat hard to transport treasure trove and maybe some information for further adventures. Now, all they have to do is figure out how to get it out of Stone Grave. The possible permutations for further adventures will be left in your hands.

In the meantime, the undead giant spiders and their zombies may have taken over the Work Level. The Grimlocks may have made a decision to try and hold the level as well and may want to go further. The Humanoids may have allied again and acquired some magic to combat the Gargoyles. They’ll be coming in force. What if a Humanoid shaman attempts to create some undead troops in Stone Grave and inadvertently raises the spirits of the multitude of ancient dead miners into Spectres and Wraiths? Lastly, certainly if one group of adventurers found this place, you can bet they won’t be the last and it’s unlikely that they’re coming to help.

Design Notes

Lord, what a cluster-f*** this project was. Unfortunately, it probably shows. It all started years ago with this unlikely to be original idea of “What if somebody put a mega-dungeon inside Ayers Rock?” “Wait,” you’re saying, “This adventure doesn’t take place inside Ayers Rock.” Yeah, I know.

From that germ of an idea, the entire Southland setting grew like an ugly patch of weeds over time. Ironically, Ayers Rock got used for another idea, but nearby Mount Conner was an even better locale for a mega-dungeon. . . which still didn’t get made. The Southland project became too big to attempt to put a massive dungeon into at that time.

But I still had the notes and the idea of putting a dungeon into a mesa-like mountain. In the course of working on Fantasy Ireland, I came upon Keeper Hill, which completely fit the bill. I added a whole background story about an underground Dwarf settlement destroyed by Elvish necromantic magic, with some Humanoid inhabitants/squatters added. However, the Ireland setting didn’t have anything to do with raiding dungeons and killing non-humans indiscriminately for their loot. That kind of stuff would start an inter-species war there. It had to be something different. Then I had this thought: What about putting a murder mystery inside a dungeon?

Two fruitless years later, I discovered that wasn’t a good idea by virtue of never being able to make it work. Oh sure, it might work for you and your players and your NPC’s in your long-running sandbox campaign, but doing it cold turned into a creative death march. Frighteningly, I still have the notes for this idea. I also now have the maps. It could still regurgitate into my creative life.

The only good thing about that rabbit hole was that I stat’ed out all the monsters and rough drafted maps in the process of going nowhere. I had to finish it somehow, since most of the damn work was already done. Or as Arthur C. Clarke wrote in his journal about working on 2001: A Space Odyssey, “Now have everything, except plot.” Finally, I ended up back where I began and put the thing back in the Southland. Much of the encounters and monsters stayed the same, but now they were simply there to be massacred.

Eventually, I figured out I was doing a martial version of Tomb of Horrors. I’m not sure how this sucker is going to play out other than potentially very lethally for the Characters if they aren’t played with some brains. This adventure should get frustrating given the lack of replenishment (and likely any rest) and treasure, but with plenty of monsters. There are several places where some helpful circumstances can be used to keep the Characters from being annihilated, but it’s only a stay of execution without some clever play.

Oh, if you could have seen the original plans for this place. Nine levels. Birdmen roosting in the open air amphitheater on top. Half-flooded crypt at the bottom. Place was stuffed full of undead. I don’t even have the notes for it anymore. Many of the features are in this version, but scaled down or changed dramatically. For example, the Work Level was originally a giant storage area with one un-killable monster relentlessly tracking and toying with the party, who would presumably be running around desperately looking for an exit. Well, that’s the way these things often go when they spend too much time baking in the oven.

Enjoy.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Southland Adventure: Stone Grave-Jeweled Garden/Private Crypt

STONE GRAVE

A Fantasy Core and D&D 5^th Edition Southland Adventure

© Jerry Harris 2015

(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Playtest Rules.)

Noble Level Index

Jeweled Garden

15) A Zen rock garden, but with gems. There’s sparkling gems scattered amongst the larger rocks. There’s 500 gems of 10 gp each value. Looking closer at the gravel, there’s another 1000 gp scattered on the ground. There’s also a bench in the chamber, where one can sit and mediate, presumably on how rich you’ve just become.

It’ll take at least an hour for four people to gather everything (you can adjust the time based on that and the number of people involved). In that period of time, you can bet the 7 Wights from the opera house will be making their way back to their crypts (if they haven’t already been dealt with). The Characters will have no trouble hearing them coming as they will still be singing. Unless they are being very quiet, the Wights will come to investigate. Otherwise, the Characters will have an opportunity of seeing the Wights open the Secret Door to the Crypt.

The Long Walk

1 XP for finding the Secret Door.

16) This passage was reserved for the king. It perhaps gave him time to think about things on his way to and from his throne room where he would hold court. Of more importance to the Characters is the secret passage to the treasure crypt. Unlike the rest of the level, this corridor is well and recently travelled. The layer of dust covering the floor is clearly showing footprints. (No Tracking skill required to notice this. A Ranger would identify the prints as human-ish and as several individuals, but with a strange loping gait to their step.)

The prints stop half-way down the corridor, which should be a clue. The Secret Door only requires a DC 12 Search to find if being actively searched for. The inner door is more of a problem. It cannot be physically forced. Only the king’s key will unlock it. Magically, it would require a DC 18 Dispel Magic and then a Knock spell to open.

The Private Crypt

3 XP for defeating all foes (including those summoned)

17) This was a crypt built for a few honored ancestors. Wow, talk about vanity. A survival bunker with a room for people who were already dead. Of course the Catastrophe and the magic shield have reanimated them into the undead (you shouldn’t be surprised by this anymore). Being ancient and well-preserved corpses buried in sarcophagi, they became Wights and a Mummy. They were let out by the king after everyone else in the level was dead (or undead). Each of the chambers contains jewels and crowns and such up to 1000 gp in value.

The current occupants in this chamber varies. Nothing happens until the characters remove one of the heavy stone lids off a tomb, which will begin the fight. The Mummy, whose sarcophagus (x) is much more ornate than the others, will always be present. (The old high priest Claver was always a bit anti-social.) If the characters haven’t been to the opera house and if the Mummy is defeated, he will call out and summon the 7 Wights from there, who will arrive in 3 rds. Otherwise, he’ll summon every corporeal undead creature left on the level and the King’s Ghost. If the characters have already killed everything on the level, then they’ve already earned their victory and the Mummy whimpers as he dies (technically, dies again).

Lesser Mummy (FC)

HD 8 (d12), Hp 55, AC 18* (Natural, Magic or Fire to hit)

Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +8

Melee: Slam +11 to hit 1d6+4 + Mummy Rot DC 12 Fort Sv or victim loses another 1d6+4 hp and will be unable to heal normally. Magical healing will be necessary to stop the rotting effect.

Despair: At the mere sight of a Mummy, the viewer must succeed on a DC 18 Will Sv or be paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds. (Certain classes, such as Paladins, are immune.)

Vulnerable: Fire causes x 2 damage

Mummy (5e)

HD 9d8 + 18, Hp 58, AC 11* (Natural, Magic to hit)

Str +3, Dex −1, Con +2, Int −2, Wis +0, Cha +1

Saving Throws: Wis +2

Damage Vulnerabilities: fire

Passive Perception 10

Multiattack: The Mummy can use its Dreadful Glare and make one attack with its rotting fist.

Melee: Rotting Fist. +5 to hit 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning plus 10 (3d6)

necrotic damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with mummy rot. The cursed target can’t regain hit points, and its hit point maximum decreases by 10 (3d6) for every 24 hours that elapse. If the curse reduces the target’s hit point maximum to 0, the

target dies, and its body turns to dust. The curse lasts until removed by the remove curse spell or other magic.

Ranged: Dreadful Glare. The mummy targets one creature it can see

within 60 feet of it. If the target can see the mummy, it must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw against this magic or become frightened until the end of the mummy’s next turn.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Southland Adventure: Stone Grave-King's Quaters

STONE GRAVE

A Fantasy Core and D&D 5^th Edition Southland Adventure

© Jerry Harris 2015

(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Playtest Rules.)

Noble Level Index

King’s Quarters

1 XP for either defeating the king or alternately leaving the chamber without having fought him.

14) The king’s apartment was pretty opulent in regards to space and furnishing. The outer room is a lounge for entertaining a small number of guests. There’s a private office in the corner. The bedroom features a large bed and separate His and Hers bathrooms. (The king was unwed before the end.) There’s no treasure in this room, though the curtains (again, there’s no windows, it’s just for show), the rugs, the bedding, and the furniture would be worth at least 1000 gp to a collector.

The first and last king of Stone Grave, Braygan, killed himself as the situation on the Noble Level became hopeless. He also ended up volunteering himself as the first meal for his people in the process. (It’s debatable whether he meant to do that or not.) The manner of his death and subsequent disposal of his corpse has created a haunting ghost.

As nothing lives on this level, Braygan has actually had little opportunity haunt anything. (It’s true. What kind of ghost would scare a bunch of ghouls?) That being the case, the king is actually somewhat amiable, never having gotten into the habit of haunting the living. Braygan, obviously a ghost, will be lounging on a couch reading if the Characters enter. He will be gracious, if not apologetic, for the lack of food and drink to entertain with (and surprisingly able to speak the Characters’ language thanks to being a spirit). He’ll ask about the outside world, with interest, and even the group’s adventures so far in Stone Grave. If there are any attractive females in the group, he might be considered downright lecherous in his attention. The king prominently wears has a large key on a chain around his neck. If asked about it. He’ll cheerfully tell them it’s for the crypt and that, “I let my friends in the crypt out long ago.”

This encounter could go downhill for the Characters in any number of ways. Any mention of killing the Wights in the opera house will enrage him. Females, not liking his attention, he will consider, “Playing hard to get,” and he’ll enjoy it, right up until swords are drawn. Obviously, trying to kill him or strip his quarters will also bring his wrath. Braygan has little useful information, being a bit senile and dead. Rude interrogation will also precipitate an attack. Otherwise, when the conversation has lulled, the king will dismiss himself for nap, telling the Characters they can “Let themselves out, as the staff has long since disappeared.”

Ghost (FC)

HD 10 (d12), Hp 60, AC 13* (Magic to hit)

Fort +0, Ref +0, Will +10

Melee: Life Draining Touch +10 to hit, DC 18 Will Sv or lose 1d8 Negative Hp

Can become invisible and intangible at will (0 BAB to attack when invisible), but the Ghost cannot attack in those forms.

Possession: When visible, the Ghost may attempt to move into a person and take them over. DC 18 Will Sv or controlled for 1d4 rds. Smite, Divine Light, Consecrate, Exorcism, magic weapons, and magic spell attacks on the host will affect the Ghost instead (use Ghost stats), but any other type of attack damages the host (use host stats). This attack may be attempted on a person once per encounter.

Ranged:

Fright: On initial visible appearance in Encounter, DC 18 Will Sv or panic 1d4 rds. (Paladins are immune.)

Moan Scare: When visible, the Ghost can make an audible moan, DC 18 Will Sv or panic 1d4 rds. (Paladins are immune.)

Ghost (5e)

HD 10d8, Hp 45, AC 11 (Natural)

Str −2, Dex +1, Con +0, Int +0, Wis +1, Cha +3

Damage Resistances: acid, fire, lightning, thunder; bludgeoning,

piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons

Damage Immunities: cold, necrotic, poison

Darkvision

Ethereal Sight: The ghost can see 60 feet into the Ethereal Plane when it is on the Material Plane, and vice versa.

Etherealness: The ghost enters the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, or vice versa. It is visible on the Material Plane while it is in the Border Ethereal, and vice versa, yet it can’t affect or be affected by anything on the other plane.

Incorporeal Movement: The ghost can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.

Passive Perception 11

Melee: Withering Touch +5 to hit 17 (4d6 + 3) necrotic

Ranged:

Horrifying Visage: Each non-undead creature within 60 feet of the ghost that can see it must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. If the save fails by 5 or more, the target also ages 1d4 × 10 years. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the frightened condition on itself on a success. If a target’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to this ghost’s Horrifying Visage for the next 24 hours. The aging effect can be reversed with a greater restoration spell, but only within 24 hours of it occurring.

Possession (Recharge 6): One humanoid that the ghost can see within 5 feet of it must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving throw or be possessed by the ghost; the ghost then disappears, and the target is incapacitated and loses control of its body. The ghost now controls the body but doesn’t deprive the target of awareness. The ghost can’t be targeted by any attack, spell, or other effect, except ones that turn undead, and it retains its alignment, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, and immunity to being charmed and frightened. It otherwise uses the possessed target’s statistics, but doesn’t gain access to the target’s knowledge, class features, or proficiencies.

The possession lasts until the body drops to 0 hit points, the ghost ends it as a bonus action, or the ghost is turned or forced out by an effect like the dispel evil and good spell. When the possession ends, the ghost reappears in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the body. The target is immune to this ghost’s Possession for 24 hours after succeeding on the saving throw or after the possession ends.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Southland Adventure: Stone Grave-Noble Apts/Chief Enchanter's Qtrs

STONE GRAVE

A Fantasy Core and D&D 5^th Edition Southland Adventure

© Jerry Harris 2015

(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Playtest Rules.)